Table No. 21
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Table No. 21
| image = Table No 21 official poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Aditya Datt
| producer = Sunil Lulla
Viki Rajani
| writer = Abhijit Deshpande (additional screenplay and dialogues)
| screenplay = Shantanu Ray Chhibber
Sheershak Anand
| story = Shantanu Ray Chhibber
Sheershak Anand
| starring = Paresh Rawal
Rajeev Khandelwal
Tina Desai
| music = Songs:
Gajendra Verma
Neeraj Shridhar
Sachin Gupta
Score:
Amar Mohile
| cinematography = Ravi Walia
| editing = Devendra Murdeshwar
| studio = Next Gen Films
| distributor = Eros International
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2013|01|04}}
| runtime = 108 minutes{{cite web|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/table-no-21-2013|title=Table No.21 (12A) – BBFC|publisher=BBFC|access-date=6 May 2014|archive-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629150119/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/table-no-21-2013|url-status=dead}}
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR}}85 million{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=1207|title=Table No. 21 – Movie – Box Office India|publisher=Box Office India|access-date=5 August 2018|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805142859/https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=1207|url-status=live}}
| gross = {{INR}}177.95 million
}}
Table No. 21 is a 2013 Indian Hindi language thriller film directed by Aditya Datt and produced by Eros International. It is named after Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which talks about the protection of life and personal liberty.{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/why-21-in-table-no-21/1/239015.html|title=Why '21' in 'Table no 21'|publisher=India Today|work=IANS|date=22 December 2012|access-date=20 February 2014|archive-date=26 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226212958/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/why-21-in-table-no-21/1/239015.html|url-status=live}} The film features Paresh Rawal, Rajeev Khandelwal and Tina Desai and touches upon the pertinent social issue of ragging. The film's soundtrack was composed by Gajendra Verma, Neeraj Shridhar and Sachin Gupta.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/7dqB9md2WPaVL30pChWGyv|title=Table No. 21 by Gajendra Verma, Neeraj Shridhar and Sachin Gupta|publisher=Spotify|access-date=5 August 2018|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805142858/https://open.spotify.com/album/7dqB9md2WPaVL30pChWGyv|url-status=live}}
Plot
Vivaan Agasthi is married to his college sweetheart, Siya, and the couple struggles to make ends meet when Vivaan loses his job. Around their 5th anniversary, they win a trip to Fiji in a lucky draw. The holiday is fully sponsored, with luxurious hotel accommodations and fine dinners.
At the resort, Vivaan and Siya encounter the charming Mr. Khan, who invites them to participate in his live game show, Table No. 21. He tells them that the winner of the game bags a staggering ₹210 million in prize money. Eight personal questions will be asked that must be answered truthfully, and following each, one must complete a task related to the question. Lie detectors are attached to their wrists, for which Mr. Khan lets the couple know that if they lie, they die.
After some thought, the couple decides to enter the game show. At first, the questions seem easy, but as the game progresses, the tasks become increasingly uncomfortable and horrific. Many murky details emerge, such as Vivaan slapping Siya for having had an abortion without his consent, and Siya sleeping with her boss to keep her job.
Vivaan's final task is to murder an individual. He is led to a room, where he is to face his target. When he sees the person he must kill, he recognizes him from his past. A flashback shows Vivaan, Siya and their friends in college ragging an underclassman named Akram. The ordeals that Vivaan and Siya had suffered were based on the same ordeals that they inflicted on Akram - public humiliation, forcing him to eat non-vegetarian food, dousing him in blood, etc. The severe bullying compelled Akram to approach the principal, but Vivaan and his friends captured Akram before he could react, stripped him naked and shaved his head while filming the act. This humiliation caused Akram to become mentally challenged.
Back in the present, it is revealed that Akram is Mr. Khan's son and that Mr. Khan's intention was to exact retribution from Vivaan and Siya for reducing his son to an empty shell. Mr. Khan tells them that they are free to go, but their sins will follow them everywhere. The movie ends as Vivaan and Siya are still shocked – crying and regretting their choices.
Cast
- Paresh Rawal as Abdul Razaq Khan
- Rajeev Khandelwal as Vivaan Agasthi
- Tina Desai as Siya Agasthi
- Sana Amin Sheikh as Neeti
- Asheesh Kapur as Bittoo
- Dhruv Ganesh as Akram Khan
- Hanif Hilal as Ghouse (Khan's bodyguard)
- Seema Sheoran actress in Mann Mera song
- Manjunath Gaddi as a Chotu
Soundtrack
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Song Title | Singer | Length |
|---|---|---|
| "If You Lie You Die" | Neeraj Shridhar, Jaspreet Jasz | 04:01 |
| "Mann Mera" (Remix) | Gajendra Verma | 03:19 |
| "Mann Mera" | Gajendra Verma | 02:43 |
| "O Sajna" (Remix) | Gajendra Verma, Puja Thaker | 02:47 |
| "O Sajna" | Gajendra Verma, Puja Thaker | 04:59 |
Reception
=Critical response=
Critics have praised the story but have criticized the way the issue of ragging is kept under wraps.[http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/bollywood/table-no-21-review-worth-every-ounce-of-evergy-invested-more-or-less_125628.htm ‘Table No. 21’ review: Worth every ounce of energy invested – more or less!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109012228/http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/bollywood/table-no-21-review-worth-every-ounce-of-evergy-invested-more-or-less_125628.htm |date=9 January 2013 }}.
Zeenews.india.com.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/review_film-review-table-no-21-the-curse-of-the-back-story_1785614 |title=Film review: Table No 21: The curse of the back-story - Entertainment - DNA |access-date=12 January 2013 |archive-date=7 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107002325/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/review_film-review-table-no-21-the-curse-of-the-back-story_1785614 |url-status=live }} Ankur Pathak of Rediff.com says that "Table No. 21 should be watched for the reactive social commentary that it is and should not be misconceived as a vigilante film." Rated it 3 out of 5 stars.{{Cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/table-no-21-is-a-game-well-played/20130104.htm |title=Review: Table No 21 is a game well played |access-date=21 April 2013 |archive-date=24 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524034407/http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/table-no-21-is-a-game-well-played/20130104.htm |url-status=live }} Madhureeta Mukherjee of The Times of India rated the film 3 out of 5 stars.{{Cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/hindi/Table-No-21/movie-review/17872372.cms |title=Table No.21 Movie Review |website=The Times of India |access-date=21 April 2013 |archive-date=23 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523143413/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/hindi/Table-No-21/movie-review/17872372.cms |url-status=live }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=2229842|title=Table No. 21}}
{{Portal|India|Film|Bollywood}}
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Category:2010s Hindi-language films
Category:Indian adventure thriller films
Category:Indian films about revenge
Category:2010s adventure thriller films
Category:Films about mental health
Category:Films about social issues in India