January 4, 1999

He's certainly the most garrulous of the lot and the youngest too. This year Lok Sabha MP S. Jaipal Reddy, 57, joins the small, elite list of winners of the Best Parliamentarian Award. Says the repartee-ready spokesman of the United Front: "In an age when every party has 13 spokesmen, I acted as spokesman for 13 parties." He obviously had a job nobody else wanted.

Oomph, the Sequel

It was a bad year for Bollywood's original queen of oomph, Zeenat Aman. A bitter divorce from husband Mazhar Khan, followed by his death. But there's a new start with the new year. Zeenie Baby (Mama?) is making a comeback in an offbeat film opposite Naseeruddin Shah. Bhopal Express is a love story set against the 1984 gas tragedy and Ms Aman puts in a special appearance in a "serious role". "It's a good change," she coos. "She's fabulous," exults director Mahesh Mathai. Ah men!

Parting Ways

They've split. Finally. Chandan Basu, the only son of West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, and wife Dolly legally separated this past week after 2I years of wedded life and an alimony of Rs 10 lakh. This was one alliance grandpa Basu would have wanted for keeps, he so loves his three granddaughters -- but they've moved away with mommy.

Juicy Stuff

She makes a pretty picture alright. But Channel V veejay Laila Rouass wants to do more. The lady's moving behind the camera to produce Juice, a dance show that will showcase hip hop, soul and funk music. "The idea is to let the viewers have a party of their own at home," says a V spokesperson. And for all those fans who can't stop staring at the stunner, not to worry. Laila plays the host as well. What does the pretty producer have to say? "It's a great break. The music I get to play is just my kind of stuff." So we'll get to see this babe do her own number.

Slice of Sweetness

It may not be anywhere near the original. But it's a titan of a cake. The annual cake show by Nilgiris, the confectionary king of Bangalore, has among its displays an 18-ft-long model of the Titanic. But what takes the bakery is the 22-ft-tall model of New York's UN building. It consumed 700 man hours and 45 tonnes of sugar. Says Nilgiris' MD C. Ramachandran: "The displays will be given to charity. That's the aim." And that's the X-mas spirit too -- whole calories of it.

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