Photos of PM Modi, Giorgio Meloni from the Coliseum go viral; social media explodes with memes | Today’s news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni are once again dominating social media timelines after their latest meeting in Rome sparked a new wave of ‘Melodi’ memes online.
Shortly after arriving in the Italian capital on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi met Meloni for dinner before the two leaders visited the iconic Colosseum together. Pictures from the evening quickly went viral, with social media users once again celebrating the visible camaraderie between the two leaders.
Sharing photos of the visit on X, PM Modi wrote:
“After landing in Rome, I had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni for dinner, followed by a visit to the iconic Colosseum,”
“We exchanged views on a wide range of topics. We look forward to our talks today where we will continue to talk about how to strengthen the India-Italy friendship,”
The two leaders are expected to hold bilateral talks during Modi’s ongoing visit.
‘Melodi’ Moment Goes Viral Again
One of the most talked about moments from the visit was a playful nod to the viral trend “Melodi” – a nickname coined by internet users by combining “Meloni” and “Modi”.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi gifted Meloni with a packet of Parle Melody caramels, referring to the long-running internet joke about the term “Melody”.
Meloni later shared a video on Instagram of Modi holding the package as the two leaders laughed at an inside joke.
The clip instantly went viral across social media platforms, with users flooding X and Instagram with memes, edits and reactions celebrating the carefree interaction.
Social Media Revisits Viral Friendship ‘Melodi’
PM Modi and Meloni’s interactions have repeatedly gone viral over the past few years, especially among Indian social media users.
Their public appearances together at global events often started trending memes, fan edits and funny posts online.
One of the first viral moments came during the G20 2023 summit in New Delhi, where their interaction generated widespread attention online.
During her visit to India then, Modi gifted Meloni with a traditional Patan Patola scarf, woven by the Salvi family from Gujarat’s Patan region.
Internet fascination surrounding the duo intensified during the G7 2024 summit in Puglia, Italy, where Meloni was seen greeting several world leaders with the ‘namaste’ gesture before meeting Modi.
Many social media users interpreted the gesture as a subtle reference to her friendship with the Indian Prime Minister.
The two leaders have often referred to each other publicly as “good friends”. Meloni was also among the first European leaders to congratulate Modi after his re-election for a third consecutive term.
Indian diaspora welcomes PM Modi in Rome
Apart from meeting Meloni, PM Modi also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora in Italy after arriving in Rome.
Videos shared online showed members of the Indian community enthusiastically welcoming the prime minister outside his hotel with cultural performances and chants.
In one widely circulated moment, Modi was also seen signing an autograph for a child who presented him with a portrait.
Clips of the interaction were widely shared by supporters online during his visit.
Focus on India-Italy partnership
Apart from the viral moments and buzz on social media, Modi’s visit to Italy is expected to focus heavily on strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.
According to Reuters, India and Italy are seeking to further deepen their relationship by elevating it to a special strategic partnership.
After arriving in Rome, Modi disclosed on X that the visit will focus on strengthening cooperation between the two nations, particularly around the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
Relations between India and Italy have strengthened considerably in recent years.
Italy is currently India’s fourth largest trading partner within the European Union after Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. According to the Italian Embassy in New Delhi, bilateral trade between the two countries has reached $14.56 billion during 2023-24.
Meloni had earlier visited India in March 2023 as the chief guest of the Raisina Dialogue 2023, during which the two countries upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership.
While diplomacy and trade remain central to the visit, the now-viral “Melodi” moments from Rome have caught the internet’s attention once again.
