Table No. 21 (**½)– Movie Review
Director: Aditya Datt
Cast: Paresh Rawal, Tena Desae, Rajeev Khandelwal
Karnal Life ! Says: **½
Movie Review: A Table for two, please? With a stunning view of the Fiji islands, the finest champagne, exclusive service and a lavish 8-course meal. And guess what? It costs absolutely nothing. Now, before you growl with greed, let's see what's on the menu - blood and bravado, love and lies, truth and treachery, money and mind-games. Vivaan (Rajeev Khandelwal) and Siya (Tena Desae), a middle-class couple win a free trip to the exotic Fiji Islands. Soon, this freebie of an affair turns into a reality show for 8 million viewers on the internet. The couple is invited by one Mr.Khan (Paresh Rawal) who's a quiz-master and 'not a terrorist', to Table No. 21 - A live game show where 8 questions are asked, followed by a daunting task. All they have to do is bare (at times bleed) their hearts and say nothing but sach and walk home with the prize money of 21 crores. The rules are simple: Say one lie and be ready to die and once you are on the hot-seat, there's no turning back. The heavenly island turns into a Hell-home, and the couple is torn between a web of lies, truth and shocking reality. Of course, this 'Crorepati' game unlike the real one, needs no recap of your GG (read: general gyan), or a 'lifeline' to save the day.
Rajeev Khandelwal, takes on the sach ka saamna game sportingly, using his intensity and good-looks, in some parts; he portrays the much needed despair and desperation, but this isn't a full-blown performance for an actor of calibre. Paresh Rawal is not the most charming game-show host, but he's not supposed to be. He's pulls off this one in his usual style (experimenting only with his look), and gives his best shot at the end. Tena Desae, has a good screen presence and enacts well in high-drama scenes.
For a story that stays focused on the lead couple, and a game-show on an island, Aditya Datt has done a good job of entertaining, serving some suspense (intriguing, if not nail-biting) and dishing it out with some hard reality bytes. The first half is slow-paced, as a thriller it has its flaws, the direction isn't really superlative, but post-interval it spins into another zone and the climax hits home.
If you're looking for a different taste for your cinema palates (minus the mirch masala), book a seat for Table No. 21. Bon appetit!
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