User reviews

I seriously don;t know why critics gave this a bad rating. Is it because they loath actors like Khandelwal and Desae? Or is it because it is concept driven movie and not Dabangg 3?

After 2012's debacle (I cannot list good movies except Kahaani, PSTomar & VDonor), I thought of giving Bollywood one more chance and here I am. Rajdhani Express was a blunder but Table No. 21 is a shocker. It is a great thriller and is sure to blow your head.

The plot revolves around the couple and their journey which is more like a juxtaposition of "Sach Ka Saamna" & "Fear Factor". Paresh Rawal is excellent with his reverse Ghajini haircut and is a perfect narrator throughout the movie. Yes, there are many loopholes for the innovative and experimental flick, but I seriously nail-bit all along.

If you chuck the amateur direction, screenplay, some cheesy bits and unwanted humor, Table No. 21 will serve as a great weekend blockbuster. I won;t spill the beans about a strong plot (which could've been executed well) because you have to watch it to get it.

But, I am sure the box office will despise it because the actors are not celebrities but if have watched Khandelwal's Aamir & Desae's The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, you wouldn't be whining about the little mistakes this movie has to his credits. Instead, I suggest you block the previous year's bad masala-mirch vibe and watch this ingenious flick - the first watchable movie of 2013.

WATCH OUT FOR: Paresh Rawal's portrayal of the mysterious and witty benefactor and most importantly the message that it states!

Bottom Line: Watch this instead of Leander Paes' blunder off pitch.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Language: No | Sex: No | Foreplay, Mouth-Kiss: Mild | Nudity: Mild | Alcohol: Mild | Violence: Mild | Drugs: No

Any normal Indian movie watcher would not opt for this movie because this is not a dabanng nor it is a rowdy rathore....but the matter of fact is this movie does make sense and has a adorable message in the end...

To begin with, in the first hour you think this movie's concept to be an entertaining thriller one, for eg: luck. The concept is similar to sach ka saamna in which the couple on a vacation need to answer correctly all the questions in order to win a considerable amount of price money...Then begins a journey of thrill, betrayal and a game of life and death through hilarious series of tasks followed one after the other...

As far as acting is concerned, Rajeev and Tena have done a descent job , but we miss the typical Paresh Rawal in the movie...

The entire joyride i.e. the game named as table no.21 is just a bit lame and would have been made much better and more interesting...Just as you think that its a boring movie, comes the climax ....which according to me rubs off all the defects of the movie....The climax ( would not reveal the suspense) steals the show and ends up revealing and passing a strong message. At the end, we realize that the entire game-show has some meaning it...

I know that this movie wouldn't do great on the box office.....for for me that doesn't matter and I recommend you to watch this movie in theaters......for me its 7/10....

Aditya Datt's 'Table No. 21' is An Interesting Thriller, that serves a dark yet absorbing story with a highly shocking & depressing culmination. Even the performances, are commendable!

'Table No. 21' Synopsis: A couple live a mediocre life and are thrilled to have won an exotic vacation to Fiji & their excitement increases when they get a chance to play a game for a mind boggling prize money.

'Table No. 21' is thoroughly a thriller, although its dark & gets very heavy in its final act, which is highly shocking & depressing. It tackles a burning issue bleakly. Jimmy-Sen's Screenplay is well-penned & absorbing. Aditya Datt's Direction is top-notch. Cinematography captures the exotic locales of Fiji marvelously. Editing is stark. Music is hummable.

Performance-Wise: The Always Amazing Paresh Rawal is faultless. He plays a twisted man with calculation & cruelty. Rajeev Khandelwal has emerged into a terrific actor. He emerges a big winner with his stupendous performance in here. Tena Desae looks stunning & delivers convincingly. Dhruv Ganesh is excellent.

On the whole, 'Table No. 21' is a game well played!

This one comes from the director of craps like Aashiq Banaaya Aapne, Dil Diya Hai(have you heard this movie name before??)

But this time Aditya Dutt Delivers his career best with Table No.21.

The movie gets into the run right from the start without wasting any time and gets even fast paced after Paresh Rawal's Entry.

Best thing about the movie is its not too stretched and its a great watch. gripping to be true.

Performance wise both Paresh Rawal and Rajeev deliver in their style as expected. Tena has overacted a bit in start 15 minutes though.

Not to forget the actor who played Akram in the movie, his expressions just make you feel about the situation gone through.

Direction is hats off with the links fitting very well.

On the whole, Table No. 21 is for those who look forward for thrilling stuff.

Not to be missed.

9/10

Anything that seem to be too much for it own good doesn't always have good motives behind it. Like when your neighbour is being extra nice towards you when he needs some favour to be done or when you professor has the that tacky smile on his face when handing out booklets. Something inside tells you that you don't deserve this and the equation of karma doesn't fit in. But nobody takes a cue and thus refuting their guts they continue to go deeper until they realise the cost.

When the Vivaan And Siya, married for 5 years decide to spend their 5th anniversary in the islands of Figi on a lucky draw prize they won, they are in for a surprise. On the last day of their stay, the jobless Vivaan and his affable wife are lured into a game called Table No. 21 hosted by Abdul Razzaq Khan in a bid to win $10million FJ which is approximately Rs 21 crores. But it is not all rosy as it looks, to get to the prize money the couples has to answer correct 8 questions put by the host and correspondingly do the given tasks after each. This all goes well with the moto or the catch line of the game(also the movie) 'If you lie, you die'.

Touted as thriller, this movie starts rather slow, not rushing into the mystery of the plot. The first few minutes into the game for me were silly with protagonists laughing at the plausibility of earning 21 crores which may be rational in real life but seems very boring and uninteresting on screen. Also as the movie gives us rare thrilling aspects it hardly leaves us spellbound. To be more precise the movie fails in the main area i.e. the part where the audience should be enthralled. Most of the questions and tasks in the movie were bland and could have been more innovative to hold up the attention.

But to it's credit the movie does starts to kick in with all cylinders just after the start of second half. This is the part when the protagonist start getting more aware and the antagonist more villainy. Although most of the movie is shot in plush 5 star hotels, getting the feel of the place might have helped the movie. It's very difficult to avert ones eyes from the screen at this part of the movie filled with new mysteries and awaiting twists. The music is also a plus point for the movie with some good tunes to hum about. By the time climax arrives the story is splayed with open can of worms and new revelations about the past as a result of the game being played and thus the reason of the initialisation of such a deathplay comes to fore. Some lines in this movie are really good and need very loud applause for the dialogue writer.

Rajeev Khandelwal as Vivaan plays his part like he does in every other movie, with honesty and putting 100% to his portrayal. Although the start is slightly scratchy but he rarely falters as he makes his character hapless infront of audience. Tena Desae does more than giving us that wide drooling smile or the alluring bikini walk. She has great dialogue delivery and her acting is quite good (after her recent stint in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel). Paresh Rawal shifts the movie into another higher gear in the second half. He kind of holds it in the first half but his second half is really symbolic of his acting prowess. That menacing smile and those witty dialogues gives his villainous personality a new high. He need to do more of this kind villain projects.

When Siya says Money can buy everything in this world, Mr. Khan respond immediately saying not the past, ponder over this because around this very line the whole movie revolves. It's laudable attempt by Aditya Dutt one that just manages to push the envelop and stand out in the most template driven movies. Must watch.

Table 21 was one of taut thriller with superb climax that will make you feel pity but also makes it an endearing watch.

A couple 5th wedding anniversary vacation goes horribly wrong when they decide to play a game called Table No.21 with a restaurant owner who promises to pay them 21 crores if they manage to win the game. However, as they play the game, mystery unfolds and reveals the ultimate truth which will impact their lives.

Aditya Datt(Ashiq Banaya Apne) completely surprises you his latest coming and especially if you are not expecting much from this movie. The story of playing a live-game has been witnessed before in movie LUCK but this was well-directed , well written and well-acted as well. The movie starts off with usual romantic stuff but gets to the point directly and keeps you engrossed till the actual drama unfolds. But main twist is in the end which is the highlight of the film and you will who is the main culprit here. Credit goes to the director for handling the thriller quite well. Acknowledgement for screenplay as well. Dialogues are good. Story is awesome. Songs are just about OK. Background score is nice. Cinematography is good. Performances by Rajeev Khandelwal and Paresh Rawal are brilliant. Both of them enact their part with conviction. Paresh Rawal surprises you with his versatile act.. in fact you are going to love his character. Rajeev Khandelwal is getting better with each film. You would appreciate his choice of films.

Table No.21 is edgy , engrossing , well-directed with superb performances and lovely twist at the end. Excellent - 4/5

2013 has begun well: "Table No. 21", the first Hindi film I've seen this year is an excellent start to what I hope will be an exceptional one for cinema.

This film came to movie screens without any fanfare yesterday, with no hugely well-known names apart from that of character actor and noted scene-stealer Paresh Rawal. I was unfamiliar with Rajeev Khandelwal's work until now, but he's earning a name for himself doing unusual, offbeat films, and Tena Desae (weird spelling, but no matter – I suppose her name is Tina Desai) debuted last year as Dev Patel's love interest in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel".

A young couple experiencing hard times wins a weeklong stay in picturesque Fiji. On their last night there, they're invited to dinner at a fancy resort. They are seated at Table No. 21, and welcomed with chilled Dom Perignon by the owner. He tells them that apart from the ultra-swanky resort, he runs a web-based game show that boasts eight million computer geek fans. The game sounds easy enough: answer eight questions with just "Yes" or "No", carry out eight tasks linked to the questions, and walk away with 10 million Fijian dollars, which equals Indian rupees 21 crores. Ah, yes, that No. 21 again! One simple rule not to be forgotten: If you lie, you die. Would they be interested in being that night's contestants?

The broke couple cannot believe their good fortune. Within a couple of questions and tasks, it becomes clear that their mysterious host knows a lot about them. Each "Yes" or "No" answer becomes tougher as he forces them into truly sinister terrain. Suddenly the idyllic Fiji landscape takes on threatening hues.

It would be unwise to ruin a taut, truly innovative thriller with more details. The title of the film gains significance when one considers Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees the protection of life and personal liberty. No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty, except according to procedure established by law.

It's impressive that such a small film has top-notch production values, a classy look, and best of all, thoughtful writing (Sheershak Anand, Abhijit Deshpande, Shantanu Ray Chibber, and Aditya Datt) and excellent performances. Veteran Paresh Rawal creates a multi-layered character one is unlikely to forget. You cannot take your eyes off him as his inscrutable, Machiavellian host turns the screws on the unfortunate game-show participants, while the hapless husband and wife do a fine job of winning our sympathy as their lives unravel before us.

Director Aditya Datt, whose three prior films went unnoticed, deserves kudos for helming this one with a sure, steady hand. Ravi Walia's slick camera work makes the most of the scenic Fiji locations that become more and more foreboding with the film's darkening mood. Editor Devendra Murdeshwar contributes much to the pace and texture of the film, which will stay with you long after the end credits have rolled. This timely film has enormous crossover potential, but because few know it is playing, it might not get the audiences it deserves.

Here's hoping 2013 will be filled with such imaginative, well-made fare.

Whatta Thrilling And Emotional Movie ! A Must Watch .

The movie is based on article no. 21 of Indian constitution. And you will only be able to find out the connection in the last 1/2 hour as promised by thrillers. Acting done by Paresh Rawal is quite good but Rajiv is not good in it. He lacks the charm and the acting done in college life is not up to the mark.

Fiji's scenic beauty is very well captured though. Winning a trip to Fiji for a mediocre couple must be quite a surprise but 10 millions hits on website, 21 crore to win in a game that all does not look promising even in movie. A fresh approach and different from the stereotyped bollywood movies. Movie is good in patches of 10-15 minute but the binding factor in the movie is missing.

It's not just the premise that grabs your attention, but TABLE NO. 21 stands out because it doesn't borrow the formulaic template, nor does it rely on the predictable twists and turns or caricaturist characters to enthrall the spectator. It's clever, engaging and carries a message that hits you like a ton of bricks. Importantly, it's a well crafted thriller that delivers more than what it promised in its attention-grabbing promos.

TABLE NO. 21 is a commendable movie-going experience. If you are an extremely choosy moviegoer who watches select first-rate films a year, make sure TABLE NO. 21 is included on your listing. Strongly recommended!

Highly Recommended

Seeing this movie in 2021 ! Idk if still ragging performed in colleges but still it is a crime...this movie had shown that how humanity can be drip till deep ! Nothing to say much !

Such an amazing movie with a great message for the current and the upcoming youth. This is a must watch movie because the lesson this movie gives is much needed for all of us to learn. Ragging is not a joke it's a crime which can unknowingly or knowingly cause many deaths and also mental instability which is equal to death. Definitely loved everything about this movie.

A couple. A gaming challenge. Some questions. Some tasks. The rules. And the referee.

A couple take a challenge to answers some questions and do some related tasks only to make quick money they offered by a strange man who is also the referee. And every game has rules. There is no way to break.

Could have been better if it get a little bit longer.

Let's watch how easy to be a millionaire. Let's watch how far can anyone go for money. Let's watch how...

Aditya Datt's mysterious thriller opens with the explanation of its title on the screen which refers to the Article No. 21of the Indian Constitution talking about the "Right To Live and Personal Liberty". But since the film deals with a secret to be revealed in the end, therefore I would not like to talk about its story details here which may ruin your experience of watching this above average thriller, with thankfully something different to offer.

TABLE No.21 begins with some picturesque romantic moments lived in Fiji by the lead couple who are there on a trip won in some undisclosed contest. Once these initial routine 15 minutes are over, the film actually begins as soon as Paresh Rawal enters the scene with his exciting game of few questions (with a board reminding me of JUMANJI) and a prize money of 21 crores. Finding it interesting enough the couple readily agrees to the deal and start answering the questions truthfully to win the big prize. Performing new challenging tasks associated with every question asked, they start facing some unusual & surprising situations which in turn make the film quite engrossing and entertaining.

But post intermission, as the narration begins to go into the repetitive zone and the actual secret behind the game is exposed, it somehow reduces the overall impact of the build-up made by its first half. The social angle prominently there in its final moments doesn't turn out to be that explosive as one expects it to be. Therefore the moment you know it all, the game doesn't seem to be convincing enough and the whole set- up looks like quite weird and over the top. However the plus point of TABLE NO. 21 remains that, it at least tries to give you something fresh and unique moving ahead than the usual Bollywood stuff and its fixed formulas.

Having said that, this is not the first time such concept of a game has been used for an intense suspense thriller in Bollywood. In 2011, there was a small budget and not so well publicized film called CHITKABREY, which also had exactly the same plot with the socially relevant angle revealed in the end. Now the only difference here is that where CHITKABREY featured a game similar to the famous BIG BOSS format, the present TABLE No. 21 revolves around a game reminding you of the controversial SACH KA SAAMNA program. Probably Rajeev Khandelwal also got this film due to the reason that he was only the anchor of SACH KA SAAMNA show in reality too.

So in one way, it can also be called an unofficial remake of that unknown film of 2011 which was comparatively a pretty weak project with an amateurish cast. Honestly, its quite possible that the similarity being discussed here is purely unintentional or coincidental. And in case it really is then surely the culprit here is the trend wherein film-makers normally don't watch the new films released in the Hindi Film Industry itself due to their own distinctive reasons.

Progressing on an engaging track before its final 30 minutes, TABLE No. 21 tries to win over the audience through its well written narrative and surprises thrown in every 10-15 minutes of the film which only work in its first half. Musically you don't mind watching the few forgettable songs while enjoying the scenic beauty of Fiji captured well but Background Score could have been better as per the requirement of its theme. In other words, I strongly feel that if you are ready to gamble with a new subject then why not try giving it another edge with an innovative background music too.

The film completely relies on its 3 key characters, who perfectly suit their respective roles like 'T'. But I really didn't find anything new in the character portrayal by Paresh Rawal. He is good no doubt but there is nothing novel in his act which went against my own expectations from the veteran having a wide range. Rajeev Khandelwal on the other hand plays it well and one must praise the kind of projects he is choosing since his AAMIR. He has got the star-presence and looks quite natural playing the game with Paresh across the table. May be because he has already been through many similar sequences in his own TV show mentioned above. Tena Desae, as his wife, gives a fine performance and the girl does have some talent waiting to be exploited. Though she doesn't look stunning in all her outfits, but with some careful choices made she certainly can prove both her talent and confidence for sure.

Overall, TABLE NO. 21 makes a good impact till its intermission, drops towards the mid and then turns out to be less explosive than expected with a preachy kind of climax. It may disappoint you in the end too as one doesn't like to suddenly go into a 'Social mode' while watching an exciting mystery thriller. Moreover once you know the real truth, all that website business and cameras seem to be added deliberately into its narrative without any reason. Hence it can be seen once if you wish to try something fresh attempted in Hindi Films. But to say the truth, it's nothing more than a better version of CHITKABREY (released in 2011) with a finer vision, superior production values and a talented cast.

A movie that can easily match upto Hollywood standards. Don't miss this thriller.. One of the most underrated movies ever made in Bollywood.. Paresh Rawal nailed his part.. So has rajeev khandelwal.