PM Modi gifts 'Melody' to Giorgia Meloni, revives viral 'Melodi' moment
Rome, May 20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a light-hearted and unique gift -- a "Melody" toffee packet-- to his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, bringing back the widely popular "#Melodi" moment that has often gone viral on social media.
The informal exchange, marked by laughter between the two leaders, was later shared by the Italian PM on Instagram, where she also spoke about the gesture and the gift received from the Indian Prime Minister.
Sharing the video of the moment, Meloni said, "Prime Minister Modi brought us a gift -- a very, very good toffee -- Melody," as both leaders were seen sharing a laugh during the interaction.
She further added in her caption, "Thank you for the gift."
The "Melodi" phenomenon -- a portmanteau combining the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Giorgia Meloni -- has become a recurring viral trend online, reflecting the visible personal rapport and friendly exchanges between the two leaders during various international engagements.
The term has frequently been used by social media users to highlight their light-hearted interactions at global platforms, often turning into viral moments that generate memes, discussions and widespread online engagement, while also symbolising a perceived strengthening of India-Italy relations.
Earlier in the day, visuals and pictures from a special dinner hosted near the iconic Colosseum in Rome also attracted significant attention online. The two leaders were seen sharing a casual moment, including a smiling selfie and a relaxed interaction that quickly spread across social media platforms.
They were also seen standing on a balcony enjoying the sunset over the historic city of Rome, adding to the series of informal and friendly exchanges that have characterised their public appearances.
The viral 'Melodi' trend originally gained momentum after Meloni posted a selfie on X during the COP28 summit in Dubai, where she captioned it, "Good friends at COP28, #Melodi". Till then, Melodi was just a meme hashtag used by Internet users.
Since then, the duo has frequently drawn attention for their warm greetings, handshakes and cordial interactions at multiple international events, including their widely shared selfie at the G20 Summit held in New Delhi.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an Australian following global news, this is the kind of diplomacy I love to see — light, human, and effective. Nice to see two world leaders enjoying a simple moment together instead of the usual stiff photo-ops. The "Melodi" hashtag is definitely going viral here too.
Honestly, I wish our leaders focused a bit more on serious issues like trade and climate change rather than these photo ops. But I have to admit, the Melodi moment is quite wholesome and it's good that India gets positive attention globally. Just hope the substance behind the smiles is equally strong. 🤔
The Colosseum dinner and sunset selfie sounds straight out of a movie! 🎬 PM Modi and Meloni seem to have real chemistry. This sort of soft diplomacy is underrated — it opens doors for cultural exchange and tourism between India and Italy. Plus, who doesn't love a good Melody toffee? Brings back school memories!
As someone from Tamil Nadu, I love how these informal moments go viral and make our PM seem approachable on the world stage. But I wonder — does this translate into real policy changes for Indians in Italy or NRI issues? The Melody toffee is cute, but I'd like to see more substance in bilateral ties. Let's hope this friendship bears fruit.
The #Melodi trend is hilarious but also genuine. You can't fake that kind of rapport — they clearly enjoy each other's company. It's refreshing to see world leaders being human, especially after all the tension
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