20 May,2026 05:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni welcomes India`s Premier Narendra Modi upon his arrival at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome for talks on Wednesday. Pic/PTI
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi presented a packet of Melody toffees to Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni during their meeting in Rome, in a light-hearted gesture that has revived the popular "Melodi" trend on social media. Parle, the company behind the iconic toffees, later reposted the video originally shared by Meloni on Instagram, highlighting the warm exchange with the tagline "Sweetening relationships since 1983."
The clip, tagged with the official accounts of both leaders, shows Modi handing over the toffees as the two leaders share a laugh. In the video, Meloni describes the gift, saying, "Prime Minister Modi brought us a gift - a very, very good toffee - Melody." She added in the caption, "Thank you for the gift," while both leaders were seen enjoying the informal moment.
Parle's repost has given the video fresh visibility, presenting the simple act of sharing Indian toffees as a symbol of goodwill and cordial diplomacy. The company's caption cleverly links the gesture to its long-standing brand legacy, turning a personal diplomatic moment into a widely appreciated social media story.
The "Melodi" phenomenon - a playful portmanteau of Modi and Meloni - has become a recurring viral trend reflecting the visible personal rapport between the two leaders. Social media users have frequently used the hashtag to highlight their friendly exchanges at global platforms, often generating memes, discussions and widespread online engagement that symbolise strengthening India-Italy relations.
This latest exchange adds to a series of warm moments during the visit. Earlier visuals from a special dinner hosted near Rome's iconic Colosseum showed the leaders sharing a casual selfie and relaxed interaction that quickly spread across platforms. They were also seen standing on a balcony enjoying the sunset over the historic city, adding to the informal and friendly tone of their public appearances.
The #Melodi trend originally gained momentum after Meloni posted a selfie during the COP28 summit in Dubai, captioning it "Good friends at COP28, #Melodi." Since then, the duo has drawn consistent attention for their warm greetings, handshakes and light-hearted interactions at multiple international events, including a widely shared selfie at the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
By reposting Meloni's video of the Melody toffee gift, Parle has tapped into this ongoing positive narrative. The move blends brand nostalgia with contemporary diplomacy, giving the iconic Indian confectionery fresh global attention while celebrating the camaraderie between the two leaders.
The video continues to circulate widely, with users appreciating the human touch in high-level diplomacy and the sweet simplicity of the gesture.
(With IANS inputs)
