Rome, May 21 (BNP): A light-hearted diplomatic gesture between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni turned into a viral internet sensation during Modi’s visit to Rome, after the Indian leader gifted a packet of the popular Indian ‘Melody’ toffee to his Italian counterpart, reviving the much-loved “Melodi” trend online.
The playful moment unfolded during high-level engagements in Rome, where Meloni later shared a video on social media thanking Modi for the gift. In the clip, the Italian Prime Minister described the confectionery as a “very, very good toffee,” while Modi smilingly revealed its name — “Melody” — triggering laughter and a fresh wave of online reactions celebrating the duo’s camaraderie.
The term “Melodi,” a blend of Modi and Meloni, has become a popular internet nickname symbolising the friendly rapport between the two leaders. Over the past year, informal exchanges, selfies and candid moments at multilateral summits have frequently gone viral, drawing millions of views and widespread social media engagement. A selfie video shared by Meloni during the G7 Summit in 2025, captioned “Hello from the Melodi team,” had earlier amplified the trend globally.
Beyond the viral moment, the visit also underscored growing strategic ties between India and Italy. The two leaders held discussions on expanding bilateral cooperation across trade, infrastructure, defence, clean technology and economic connectivity, including collaboration under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Both nations have expressed ambitions to deepen economic engagement and further strengthen their strategic partnership in the coming years.
During his visit, Modi also met Italian artist Giampaolo Tomassetti, who presented him with a painting of Varanasi, reflecting his long-standing artistic engagement with Indian culture and civilisational heritage.