High-stakes international summits usually run on a predictable script. You get rigid handshakes, tightly managed photo ops, heavily redacted communiqués, and speeches written by teams of diplomats who spent months sanding off anything remotely interesting.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim threw that manual out the window during the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Standing beside a live pianist at the official gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam, Anwar didn't just give a standard diplomatic toast. He grabbed the spotlight by breaking into an impromptu rendition of Kishore Kumar’s evergreen 1965 romantic classic, "Khwaab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat" from the film Teen Devian.
Before launching into the song, he asked playfully in Malay: "Guru mintak izin nyanyi kejap ok?" (Teacher, may I have permission to sing for a moment, okay?). The room erupted, and clips of his performance quickly flooded social media, turning a geopolitical gathering into a viral cultural moment.
If you've been following South-East Asian politics, this won't shock you at all. Anwar's affinity for Hindi cinema and timeless Indian melodies isn't a one-off stunt. During his official visit to India in 2024, he belted out the exact same Kishore Kumar track during a media interview, and later rendered Mukesh's haunting classic "Dost Dost Na Raha" from Sangam at a hotel farewell event in Delhi. His deep-seated appreciation for retro Bollywood and classic Indian cinema has become a signature part of his diplomatic toolkit, proving that a shared cultural chord can do heavy lifting that formal treaties often miss.
It goes beyond Hindi tracks, too. When PM Modi visited Malaysia, Anwar hosted a lunch featuring Tamil songs from legendary actor-politician MGR’s 1975 film Naalai Namathe, cementing his status as a genuine connoisseur of Indian entertainment history rather than someone just reading off a talking-points memo.
The music at the Delhi summit provided a much-needed human release valve. Hours prior, world leaders had tackled heavy issues like multilateral trade frameworks, global governance reforms, and regional conflicts under the New Delhi Declaration. Guests at the gala also dined on an elaborate menu featuring Indian regional items like Gucchi Marmik and Khandvi Mille-Feuille, while taking in cultural showcases like the "Navarasa" performance and the BRICS Symphony.
Yet, it was Anwar's unscripted vocal performance that captured headlines globally. It proves a simple truth about international relations. Leaders are people, and soft power works best when it cuts through protocol. When a 79-year-old prime minister can step up to a mic and casually honor an S.D. Burman composition with Majrooh Sultanpuri's lyrics, it leaves a lasting impression that no press release could ever match.
