Table No 21

Bollywood opens this New Year’s account with a thriller. While the film lacks big star power and hype, its promos last month caught one’s attention suggesting a new and different story and creating some interest and excitement around it.
The film is about a married couple who wins a free trip to Fiji in a contest. They meet a resort owner there who invites them to play a game which involves answering eight questions truthfully followed by a daring act. The prize money is 21 crores with only one rule… if you lie, you die. The game soon becomes a trap for the couple and what follows then is a thrilling and suspenseful drama.
It’s a novel story and the narrative keeps you engaged for most parts. Once the initial acts are over, you know that it’s not only a game and that builds a good suspense of why is all this happening, how are the couple and their past linked with the game-master and where will this lead to. The climax is also somewhat shocking with a tragic yet extremely meaningful message. However, the film has too many weak points to be a good thriller. While some questions and acts are interesting, some are plain silly and amateurish and none of the acts is thrilling enough to take you to the edge of your seat. Also, once the suspense unfolds, you wonder what was the need for some of the acts because not all come across as relevant to main story. And you don’t connect with the couple’s pain and helplessness during those acts and that too weakens the overall impact.
In terms of performances, Rajeev Khandelwal is good…he comes to the other side of the table this time in playing “Sach ka Samna”. Tena Desae is strictly ok while Paresh Rawal is competent as always.
With running time of less than two hours, the film is definitely not unwatchable because of its unique story, engaging few sequences and a thoughtful message but it remains far from being a brilliant thriller. Cinema Analyst's Take – Average.