Mila mila handhuvaru from PM Anwars playlist

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim may have left the Maldives, but his Instagram playlist has left quite an impression.

During his two-day official visit to the Maldives, Anwar accompanied several of his Instagram posts with popular Dhivehi songs, catching the attention of Maldivians online.

His posts featured everything from an orchestral rendition of the Maldivian national anthem to the popular Boduberu track “Mariyam Malaa” by Ekathi. But it was his selection of classics by legendary Maldivian singer Meynaa Hassan that really got people talking.Among the songs featured were “Mila Mila Han'dhuvaru,” “Raivareh Hedheema,” “Fanu Dhunmaari” and “Maasingaa Kandutheray.”

The choices quickly became a talking point among Maldivians, with many amused and impressed to see a foreign head of government using some of the country's most recognisable songs to soundtrack his visit. But the Dhivehi playlist appears to be part of a wider habit.

Anwar has previously used local music to accompany his international engagements. During his recent visit to India for the BRICS Summit, his Instagram posts featured a string of Bollywood classics, including songs from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, Veer-Zaara and Lagaan. He also sang Kishore Kumar's “Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat” at the BRICS gala dinner.

Rather than sticking to a single soundtrack for his diplomatic travels, Anwar appears to bring elements of the culture of the country he is visiting into his social media storytelling.

And in the Maldives, that meant Meynaa Hassan, Boduberu and a playlist that has made the Malaysian Prime Minister unexpectedly familiar to a whole new audience.