After hectic discussions, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu sat for lunch, the live band played Ichak Dana, Bichak Dana, a song from 1955 Raj Kapoor starer film Shri 420. Heads turned as many Israeli guests and diplomats readily acknowledged that they knew this song.
The song immortalised by Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh has been popular in Israel, too. Sixty years after it was first sung, the song again left its mark as leaders gathered at Hyderabad House.
Bonhomie has been on display since Netanyahu landed in Delhi. Modi had gone to receive him at the airport on Sunday and their hugs had even made PM's rivals take notice.
In fact, during his current visit Netanyahu has Bollywood on his mind. The visiting PM has been keen on Bollywood making its movies in Israel. An MoU on film cooperation was signed by both countries here on Monday.
“My wife and I are very happy that we are going to Bollywood,” Netanyahu had said during the joint statement.
“PM Netanyahu had said he was very keen on visiting Mumbai,” Vijay Gokhale, Secretary (economic relations) said. Gokhale will take charge as the next Foreign Secretary after incumbent Jaishankar's contract ends later this month.
In Mumbai, Netanyahu will meet Bollywood personalities with an invitation for them to visit his country. The Mumbai programme has been aptly named 'Shalom Bollywood'.
The ties between the two countries were further cemented when Modi took Netanyahu to Teen Murti Chowk, on Sunday, and renamed it as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk. “Israeli PM said he was very moved at this gesture,” Gokhale said.
The three statues at Teen Murti represented the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who as a part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade attacked Haifa in 1918, during World War I. Forty-four Indian soldiers were killed in that war.
On Monday, both leaders met privately to discuss issues like security, defence deals and Palestine. MEA officials did not share much details of the meeting.
While, cooperation in agriculture and defence sector has been mainstay of both countries' engagements, both side decided to included cyber security and oil and natural gas as new areas to collaborate with each other.
“In area of cyber security, the relations was B-2-B (business to business) as many Isreali firms had presence here in India, Now that will move to G-2-G (government to government),” Pavan Kapoor, Indian Ambassador in Tel Aviv said.
Beyond the bitty-grittiness of the visit, both the leaders are keen on displaying their mutual admiration for each other. Netanyahu called Modi as “a revolutionary leader” and offered to take Yoga class from him.
After Netanyahu's visit to Agra to see Tajmahal with his wife, Modi will take him to Ahmedabad where the latter will showcase the progress Gujarat had made under him, well in his own style – a roadshow from airport to Sabarmati Ashram.
