Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim created a memorable moment at a BRICS dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Saturday when he took the stage and sang a popular Hindi song associated with legendary singer Kishore Kumar.
The unexpected performance added a warm and personal touch to the high-profile gathering, bringing an element of music and culture to an evening otherwise centred on diplomacy and international affairs.
Anwar Ibrahim's fondness for Indian music made the performance particularly special for Indian audiences. Kishore Kumar's timeless songs continue to enjoy immense popularity across generations, and the Malaysian Prime Minister's rendition quickly drew attention online.
The moment also highlighted the longstanding cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Malaysia, demonstrating how music can transcend borders, languages and political differences.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping was among the notable absentees at the gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for BRICS leaders, participating countries and international organisations.
Sources said Xi did not attend the dinner, though the reason for his absence was not immediately known. One source suggested that the Chinese President may have returned to his hotel to rest.
Xi arrived in Delhi on Saturday afternoon, attended the BRICS Summit and held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi. His visit marks his first trip to India in seven years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and other BRICS leaders attended the dinner. Union ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Shivraj Singh Chouhan were also present.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended the event along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The Union ministers and chief ministers travelled in two buses from Parliament House to the dinner venue at Bharat Mandapam.
The specially curated menu featured dishes including khandvi mille-feuille, khumb galouti, paneer lababdar, gucchi marmik, carrot-bean poriyal and millet pulao. Desserts included Old Delhi fruit cream with jalebi and shahtoot phirni.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed was also absent from the dinner after leaving for home following his participation in the summit earlier in the day.
India is hosting the BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13, with leaders from the 11 member countries and 10 partner countries, along with representatives of international organisations, taking part in the proceedings.
While the summit focused on global diplomacy, economic cooperation and international issues, Anwar Ibrahim's musical performance offered a lighter and memorable cultural moment, underlining the role of music in bringing people and nations closer.
