PM Modi's gifts 'Melody' toffees to Italian PM Meloni in sweet gesture
Rome, May 20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought the 'Melody moment' to life, gifting his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, a set of 'Melody' toffees.
Italian PM Meloni shared a post on X, thanking PM Modi for the gift as they laughed over the cheerful internet trend.
Melody is a term often used on the internet to highlight the good friendship between PM Modi and Meloni.
PM Modi met Meloni over dinner shortly after arriving in Rome on Tuesday, on the last leg of his five-nation visit.
They both then undertook a visit to the iconic Colosseum, where they engaged in deep conversation over a wide range of subjects
In a post on X, PM Modi shared glimpses of his visit with Meloni and said, " Upon landing in Rome, had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni over dinner, followed by a visit to the iconic Colosseum. We exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects. Looking forward to our talks today, where we will continue the conversation on how to boost the India-Italy friendship.
Giorgia Meloni welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival in Rome for the final leg of his five-nation tour.
Sharing a picture with PM Modi on X, Meloni wrote, "Welcome to Rome, my friend!."Meloni shared an earlier picture of both leaders at the Colosseum in Italy.
PM Modi also expressed deep appreciation for Italian painter Giampaolo Tomassetti during his official visit to Rome, spotlighting an extraordinary artistic tribute that bridges the cultures of India and Italy.
Tomassetti presented PM Modi, with a striking painting of Varanasi, an ancient and spiritually significant city also known as Kashi. Highlighting the artist's lifelong dedication to Indian heritage, PM Modi lauded Tomassetti's decades of work capturing the essence of Vedic culture and historic epics.
"A glimpse of Kashi in Rome! Giampaolo Tomassetti, an Italian painter, presented his work on Varanasi," PM Modi shared in a post on X. "His passion for Indian culture goes back over four decades. In the 1980s, he started as an illustrator for books on Vedic culture. From 2008 to 2013, he worked on 23 large paintings relating to the Mahabharat."\
PM Modi's Italy visit comes amid strong momentum in India-Italy relations, with both sides actively advancing the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029, a broad framework for cooperation across multiple areas.
These include trade--which reached USD 16.77 billion in 2025--investment, with cumulative FDI of USD 3.66 billion (April 2000-September 2025), as well as defence and security, clean energy, innovation, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While the gift is cute, I wish we could see more concrete outcomes from these high-profile visits. Trade is good at $16.77 billion, but we need to focus on technology transfer, defense partnerships, and especially easier visa processes for Indian students and professionals. Symbolic gestures are nice but let's not forget the substance.
The painter Giampaolo Tomassetti's work on Varanasi is truly heartwarming. An Italian artist spending decades capturing Vedic culture and the Mahabharata—this is the soft power of Indian civilization that transcends borders. PM Modi rightly highlighted this cultural bridge. Art and culture diplomacy is as important as trade talks.
As someone who follows global diplomacy, the "Melody" moment is clever branding. But beyond the social media buzz, I hope the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 delivers on clean energy and innovation. The Colosseum visit photo-op was nice, but bilateral relations need more than Instagram-worthy moments.
Love how PM Modi brings Indian brands into global spotlight! Melody toffees are a childhood favorite for many of us, and seeing them gifted to a world leader is pure nostalgia. It's these small touches that make our diplomacy unique and relatable. Well played! 🍬✨
While the optics are great, I'm more interested in the substance of the India-Italy Strategic Action Plan. Particularly, the clean energy and defense cooperation. Italy is a key partner in the Mediterranean and Europe. Let's hope this visit translates into more joint exercises, technology sharing, and student exchanges.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.