PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has found an unlikely audience in India after a video of him singing one of Kishore Kumar’s best-known Hindi classics drew thousands of reactions online.
The video shows Anwar performing Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat during his visit to New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit.
“Guru, may I sing for a bit, okay?” (“Guru minta izin nyanyi kejap ok!”) Anwar wrote in the caption accompanying the video posted on his Facebook page.
The performance quickly caught the attention of Indian social media users, many of whom recognised the song made famous by Kumar, one of the most celebrated voices in Indian cinema.
On X, user Biswajit Roy (@roybiswajit2010) praised Anwar for taking on the classic.
“You sang a classic by legendary Indian singer Kishore Kumar and honestly, you are no less impressive,” he wrote.
Roy said the sight of a foreign leader singing an Indian classic carried its own significance.
“When a world leader comes to India and sings a song, it feels like the world is singing to an Indian rhythm,” he said.
Piyush Morade also praised Anwar’s choice of song, describing the performance as “truly interesting” and applauding the prime minister’s enthusiasm.
Back home, the video generated a similar response. It had received more than 35,000 likes, 3,600 comments and over 400,000 views on Anwar’s Facebook page.
Several Malaysians appeared to appreciate seeing the prime minister let his guard down during an otherwise demanding official trip.
“After all the hard work and exhaustion, Datuk Seri also needs to entertain himself,” Facebook user King Ayol commented.
Hassan Baseri echoed the sentiment, writing: “Work never stops, so enjoy yourself for a while.”
Others recognised the song’s place in Indian pop culture, with Herlina Ghazali linking it to the 1970s film Bobby.
Kishore Kumar, who died in 1987, remains a towering figure in Indian music, with his songs continuing to enjoy a following among generations of listeners.
Anwar’s rendition may have lasted less than two minutes, but the choice of a Kishore Kumar classic gave his BRICS trip a distinctly personal — and distinctly Indian — soundtrack. - September 13, 2026
