Delhi: Parle Products on Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he gifted Melody toffees to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his visit to Rome, a gesture that quickly became a viral talking point online.

Calling it a proud moment for the company, Parle said the popular Indian candy brand had now reached the “global stage”.

Viral exchange sparks online buzz

In a social media post shared after the interaction gained traction online, Parle wrote: “Thank You Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for taking Parle Melody to the global stage."

The light-hearted moment unfolded during Modi’s meeting with Meloni in Rome. In a video widely circulated on social media, Meloni is heard saying, “Prime Minister Modi brought a very, very good toffee as a gift.”

“Melody,” Modi replied, triggering laughter and instantly reviving the long-running “Melodi” meme trend online.

“A proud moment for all of us at Parle Products to see an Indian favourite being shared across borders,” the company added.

Parle says moment could boost global recall

Parle Products vice-president and chief marketing officer Mayank Shah described the exchange as an “internet-breaking moment”.

Speaking about the impact of the viral clip, Shah said the interaction could help increase demand for Melody both within India and in overseas markets.

“This is a nice way of pushing Indian products and giving a global stage,” he said.

He also thanked the Prime Minister for bringing unprecedented visibility to the brand, while noting that Melody is already exported to more than 100 countries. According to Shah, the viral attention could further strengthen the product’s international recognition.

How the ‘Melodi’ trend began

The online buzz surrounding Modi and Meloni did not begin with the Rome meeting.

The term “Melodi”, a combination of Modi and Meloni, first gained popularity on social media during the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, where images and videos of the two leaders interacting sparked meme trends and fan edits online.

The trend expanded further during the COP28 summit in Dubai after Meloni shared a selfie with Modi using the hashtag “#Melodi”. Since then, nearly every public interaction between the two leaders has triggered fresh jokes, memes and edited videos across social media platforms.

The latest moment in Rome drew additional attention because Modi gifted Meloni an actual packet of Melody toffees, turning the long-running internet joke into a real-life reference.

Melody’s longstanding pop culture appeal

Melody, one of Parle’s best-known confectionery products, has remained a familiar name in India for decades