March 30, 1998

Dilip Bobb

There is that familiar buzz in the air. The intense speculation and fiery debate is over, except on TVI and Star News. Now, as the ad says, comes the real thing -- the annual award-giving ceremony for the best performances. As in previous contests, the competition was fierce and the outcome hotly disputed. But now, the die is cast and the envelopes can be opened. Here's a sneak preview of the winners' enclosure:

Best Actress: Sonia Gandhi, for her role in the contemporary drama, The Takeover. Her portrayal as the shy outsider who marries into a powerful family, and, through stealth, secrecy and Italian-like intrigue, takes over the family firm, has had audiences, specially right-minded supporters, on the edge of their seats. Her selection, despite minimal dialogue in the screenplay, was remarkable in that it was her debut appearance and she had to compete with the likes of veteran actress Jayalalitha. Verdict: Poised for bigger things.

Best Actor: Atal Bihari Vajpayee, already well known for his theatrical dialogue and power of oratory. His performance in the nail-biting thriller, As Good As It Gets, ran the gamut of emotions in his portrayal of a man who makes his tryst with destiny, only to realise that there's a heavy price tag attached. Verdict: Wait for the sequel.

Best Supporting Actor: Subramaniam Swamy, for his portrayal of the eternal hanger-on in the comedy, Yes Ministership, who comes to the sudden realisation that you need your enemies more than you need your friends. His role as an over-ambitious, one-time Harvard professor who switches sides like a weathervane in a tornado, could be his last chance for survival. Verdict: Could go from hero to zero.

Best Comeback: A shoe-in for Jayalalitha. Her role in the epic costume drama, Wag The Dog, has catapulted her back to centrestage. Her portrayal of the woman scorned who turns the tables on her tormentors and then demands her pounds of flesh, is full of sound and fury, signifying something, nobody quite knows what. Verdict: Should realise that Indians have an insatiable obsession with anything foreign.

Best Technology: This year's award is shared by Jairam Ramesh, Madhavrao Scindia and Kamal Nath for their dominance of the screen and for their ability to appear on multiple channels at the same time, an amazing technological feat. Verdict: They all better start learning how to speak Italian.

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