Indian PM Modi reveals Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim admires Tamil icon MGR, announces cultural center at University of Malaya.

On February 8, 2026, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is a fan of the late Tamil actor and politician MGR during a state lunch in Kuala Lumpur. A song from MGR’s 1975 film *Naalai Namathe* was performed, highlighting cultural ties between India and Malaysia. Modi emphasized the strong Tamil diaspora in Malaysia, the world’s second-largest, and announced plans to establish a Thiruvalluvar Centre at the University of Malaya to strengthen academic and cultural links.