A chance musical encounter between Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Delhi-based pianist Mujeeb ur Rehman has attracted attention after a video of the two sharing a Hindi song performance went viral. Rehman, who performs regularly in the lobby of Delhi’s Le Meridien hotel, recalled how an unexpected opportunity during Ibrahim’s visit to the capital turned into a memorable meeting with the foreign leader.
On September 12, hotel management informed the 45-year-old pianist that a special guest who enjoyed Hindi music might visit the premises. Ibrahim was in New Delhi to attend the BRICS summit, and the advance information gave Rehman time to prepare songs that the Malaysian prime minister was known to appreciate. The pianist used the opportunity to select familiar Hindi melodies ahead of the possible encounter.
Rehman said he discovered through an online search that Ibrahim particularly enjoyed two classic Hindi songs. These included “Dost Dost Na Raha”, the sombre Mukesh number from the 1964 Raj Kapoor film Sangam, and “Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat”, the romantic Kishore Kumar song from the 1965 Dev Anand film Teen Deviyan. The songs helped him prepare for the meeting.
Also Read: Ghulam Mir Backs BRICS Pahalgam Condemnation, Questions India’s Red Carpet Welcome For China
Later that evening, when Rehman noticed Ibrahim in the hotel lobby, he began playing “Dost Dost Na Raha” on the piano as a musical welcome. The Malaysian prime minister responded warmly, walking towards the pianist and beginning to sing along. He then requested the second song, “Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat”, creating the moment captured in the widely shared video.
Recalling the encounter, Rehman said Ibrahim smiled, approached him and started singing before requesting the other melody. The pianist described the experience as wonderful and said he was pleased to have had the opportunity to perform alongside the visiting leader. The interaction offered an informal and personal moment during a visit otherwise centred on high-level diplomatic engagements.
The video’s circulation has also changed Rehman’s public profile, with the pianist saying that people have begun recognising him after the clip spread online. What began as a brief hotel-lobby performance during the BRICS summit has since become a widely discussed cultural moment, highlighting the enduring appeal of classic Hindi music and its ability to create connections across national and political boundaries.
Also Read: Xi Jinping Leaves Delhi After Addressing BRICS Summit, Concluding His Two-Day India Visit