Anwar Sings Two Bollywood Classics at BRICS Summit — SkimNews
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- Anwar Ibrahim sang Kishore Kumar's "Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat" (1965) and Mukesh's "Dost Dost Na Raha" (1964) on the sidelines of the BRICS summit at a New Delhi hotel on September 12, accompanying himself with a pianist.
- India's Economic Times called the performance an "unexpected musical bridge" between Malaysia and India, while social media users including Biswajit Roy praised the moment, saying "the world is singing in India's tune."
- Some Malay-language social media commenters were less complimentary, with one suggesting the performance could be Anwar's "last song before the next General Election."
- Deputy PM Zahid Hamidi publicly pressured Anwar to dissolve Parliament for polls not due until early 2028 at the closing of the UMNO General Assembly the same day, in a long-running feud between the federal allies and state-election rivals.
- Human Resources Minister Ramanan Ramakrishnan, accompanying Anwar on the India trip, reposted the video on TikTok with the caption "some songs hit different when you know the story."
- Anwar had sung the same Mukesh song during a 2024 India state visit and previously performed Sinatra's "My Way" alongside Thai PM Anutin Charnvirakul on saxophone in July at a Putrajaya luncheon.
Why it matters: The singing came the same day Anwar's federal ally and Deputy PM Zahid Hamidi publicly pressed him to dissolve Parliament for elections two years ahead of schedule — exposing the domestic political friction the viral Bollywood moment may be aimed at softening. With Malaysia-India ties a diplomatic priority inside BRICS and Anwar's coalition facing internal strain, the performance carries soft-power value abroad while Malay-language critics hint it may not translate into goodwill at home.
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