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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Modi’s ‘Melody’ diplomacy stuns the world

Overjoyed investors buy shares of a wrong company after the PM’s gift Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gifting his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni 'Melody' toffees, reviving the light-hearted "Melodi" wordplay associated with the two leaders on social media. Meloni thanked Modi and shared a video on the social media in which she could be heard saying, “Prime Minister Modi brought as a gift, a very, very good toffee - Melody.” Modi, who was also seen in the video, burst...

Modi’s ‘Melody’ diplomacy stuns the world

Overjoyed investors buy shares of a wrong company after the PM’s gift Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gifting his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni 'Melody' toffees, reviving the light-hearted "Melodi" wordplay associated with the two leaders on social media. Meloni thanked Modi and shared a video on the social media in which she could be heard saying, “Prime Minister Modi brought as a gift, a very, very good toffee - Melody.” Modi, who was also seen in the video, burst into laughter as Meloni jokingly referred to the "Melody" toffee while showcasing the gift. The hashtag "Melodi", a blend of Modi and Meloni's names, was coined by the Italian prime minister during the COP28 in Dubai in 2023 and later went viral on social media following the warm interactions between the two leaders at global events. Modi, who arrived in Rome on Tuesday, is on the final leg of his five-nation tour to the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy from May 15-20. Modi’s gift not only floored the social media, but also earned gushing gratitude from the manufacturer of the sweet candy, Parle Products, in Vile Parle, Mumbai. “Thank You. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for taking Parle Melody to the global stage. A proud moment for all of us at Parle Products to see an Indian favourite being shared across borders,” said a social media post from @ParleFamily, a 97-year-old company. Parle Products describes Melody: “Parle Melody brings to you an irresistible layer of caramel on the outside & a delightful chocolate filling inside. Open & pop it in your mouth & relish the unique experience. It won't be too long before you start asking yourself the age-old question "Melody Itni Chocolaty Kyun Hai?”.” Cong Attacks Modi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several other Congress leaders also attacked Modi saying he continues his PR even when the economy is suffering. However, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hit back at Gandhi, accusing him of "hating India" and refusing to tolerate the "global respect" the country has garnered under Modi's leadership. Gandhi, who is on a visit to his constituency Raebareli and Amethi, said on X, "This isn't leadership, it's a gimmick." At a time farmers, labourers, traders and others in the country are all in tears, the prime minister is laughing and making reels while BJP folks are clapping along, the former Congress president said in his post in Hindi. "An economic storm is raging over our heads, and our prime minister is busy handing out candies in Italy!" he said. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge attacked Modi over issues of "rising" prices, unemployment, paper leaks, "dampening" investment and "sinking" Rupee, saying the prime minister continues his PR even as the economy is suffering. Shares turn sweet but the company was mistaken Shares of Parle Industries Ltd saw frenzied buying on Wednesday, surging five per cent to hit the upper circuit limit after Meloni posted the video. Investors wasted no time and flocked to the counter to buy the stock. Shares of the firm jumped to Rs 5.25 - the highest trading permissible limit for the day - on the BSE. On volume terms, 8.57 lakh shares of the firm were traded on the BSE during the day. But, there is a catch! Investors mistook Parle Industries for the maker of Melody toffees. Parle Products, the FMCG major, is the manufacturer of Melody toffees and is not listed on the stock exchanges. Parle Industries Ltd is a diversified commercial services provider, engaged in the business of infrastructure & real estate, and paper, waste paper and allied products. The history of swadeshi toffee is entwined with the country’s Independence and the company, House of Parle was founded in 1928 by Mohanlal Dayal Chauhan, a tailor from Pardi near Valsad, then part of the Bombay Province. As the country was flooded with imported sweets and confectionery, he decided to give it a ‘desi’ touch and flavour, and with a band of 12 workers, he launched the Parle products from a musty old warehouse near Vile Parle east station, when large parts areas of Vile Parle west were still marshes dotted with a few old bungalows and chawls. Later, he visited Germany to master the art of confectionery and returned with machinery worth Rs 60,000 to churn out simple sweets, toffees and locally flavoured Indian confections at affordable prices – willy-nilly challenging the imported British offerings. It was in 1983 that the chocolate Melody toffee. -WITH PTI

Virat Kohli’s 18-Year IPL Chase: Will This Be the One?

For Kohli, every year feels like “this is the year”—until it isn’t.

For 18 years, Virat Kohli has been the face, heart, and sometimes the single reason Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans still have hope. He wears the number 18, he’s played 18 seasons, and now, in 2025, the big question remains—will this be the year his jersey number finally translates into an IPL trophy? Or will it be another year of Ee Saala Cup Nahi?


Let’s be clear: Kohli is not the problem. The man has done everything humanly possible. He’s won the Orange Cap (2016), played ridiculous knocks that made opposition bowlers question their career choices, and has been the highest scorer in IPL history. Yet, RCB’s trophy cabinet is emptier than a Bangalore pub at 11:30 PM.


The Great RCB Tragedy

RCB has reached the finals three times—in 2009, 2011, and 2016—and each time, they found a way to self-destruct spectacularly.

• 2009: They made it to the final, only to lose to Deccan Chargers, a team that no longer exists.

• 2011: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) crushed their dreams because that’s what MS Dhoni does for a living.

• 2016: This one hurt the most. Kohli was in God-mode, scoring 973 runs in a single season, yet RCB still managed to lose to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Imagine scoring almost 1,000 runs in a season and still not lifting the trophy—it’s like scoring 99% in exams and still not getting a college seat.


The Curse of RCB

Every year, the franchise assembles a squad that looks like it could take over world cricket. Every year, something inexplicably goes wrong. Either the bowling lineup leaks runs like a broken pipeline, or their batting collapses at the worst possible time. Some believe it’s bad luck, while others think it’s just RCB being RCB.


And then there’s the legendary Kohli-AB de Villiers partnership, which gave us some of the most unforgettable IPL moments—except the one where they actually won the title.


2025: The Year of 18?

With Kohli’s 18-year IPL journey coming full circle, will fate finally hand him the trophy? Or will he have to settle for another season of “Maybe next year”?


If cricket had a scriptwriter, they’d know it’s time for a happy ending. The man has carried RCB on his back for nearly two decades. He’s played alongside legends, survived countless memes, and given his fans heartbreak after heartbreak. If number 18 doesn’t bring him luck this time, we might need to check if RCB is actually cursed.


Either way, Kohli will keep playing his heart out. Because if there’s one thing that’s guaranteed—apart from RCB’s unpredictability—it’s that Virat Kohli will give it everything he has. Whether the IPL trophy finally lands in his hands or remains a distant dream, one thing is for sure: RCB fans are in for another rollercoaster ride.


(The author is a journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

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