new delhi, May 20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have once again revived the widely popular “Melodi” meme trend during Modi’s recent visit to Italy, delighting social media users with a light-hearted exchange that quickly went viral online.
The viral moment came after Prime Minister Modi gifted Meloni a pack of Melody toffees during their interaction. The Italian Prime Minister later shared a video of the exchange on social media, triggering a fresh wave of reactions and memes across various online platforms.
In the video, Meloni is seen holding the gift and saying, “Prime Minister Modi brought as a gift a very, very good toffee.”
“Melody,” Modi responded with a smile.
The two leaders were then seen laughing together as Meloni jokingly referred to the famous toffee while showcasing the gift. The playful interaction immediately caught the attention of internet users, many of whom linked it to the already popular “Melodi” trend that has followed the two leaders since previous global summits.
The renewed buzz around the “Melodi” phrase also had an unexpected impact on the stock market. Shares of Parle Industries hit the 5 per cent upper circuit on Wednesday amid strong buying activity.
The small-cap penny stock climbed as much as 5 per cent to Rs 5.25 per share on the Bombay Stock Exchange. However, several market reports suggested that the sudden rally was largely driven by confusion among retail investors linking the company to Melody toffees.
Despite the surge in its stock price, Parle Industries has no connection with Melody candies. The toffees are manufactured by Parle Products, a Mumbai-based fast-moving consumer goods company known for iconic brands such as Parle-G biscuits, Monaco, Hide & Seek and Mango Bite.
Parle Products operates as a privately held company and is not listed on Indian stock exchanges. In contrast, Parle Industries is involved in infrastructure and real estate development and also trades in paper, paper waste and recycling-related products.
The “Melodi” trend itself is a combination of the names Modi and Meloni and has become a popular internet phrase used to describe the friendly interactions between the two leaders at international events.
The trend first gained widespread attention during the COP28 Summit in Dubai when Meloni posted a selfie with Modi on X, formerly Twitter. Sharing the picture online, she wrote, “Good friends at COP28, #Melodi.”
The hashtag quickly became a viral sensation, generating countless memes, jokes and social media discussions. Since then, every public interaction between the two leaders has attracted significant online attention, with users often reviving the “Melodi” trend in humorous and creative ways.
The latest exchange involving the Melody toffee has once again sparked widespread engagement online, with social media users praising the chemistry and friendly rapport shared by the two global leaders.
