Movie review: Table no.21- not an unfair quiz

Stars:**1/2Cast:Rajeev Khandelwal, Tena Desae, Paresh Rawal Director: Aditya Dutt Wanna be a billionaire? You got an opportunity to win it. Step into a game show of love, life and death with no use of general knowledge. You got to answer eight questions alongwith you need to pass on a task attached with each question to fetch a jackpot of Rs.21 crore. But before you become voracious we just want to outline some of the those tasks-Fill half a litre of empty bottle with your blood, digest insane flesh, make your beloved's head bald and a few more to make the contest interesting. There is just one rule in the game- you give a wrong answer and you lose your life. It's just that easy.The game show set up by ‘Aashiq Banaya Aapne' director Aditya Datt, sounds interesting but is not visually attractive as it could have been.The contestants Vivan and Siya played by Rajeev Khandelwal and Tena Desae, a married couple is the happiest duo on Earth when they win a free trip to the mesmerizing Fiji Island. Their little moments of middle class happiness are clearly portrayed in the opening scene when they are in flight and Siya rocks her seat back and forth which interrupts Vivan. For her childish act she describes “Hum kaun sa rozana flight se ghoomte hai”( How often do we travel in air?).But this free trip takes them to an unexpected deadly ride when they realize they are trapped into to a lethal game show called “Table no. 21” hosted by Mr. Khan, depicted after a long time by Paresh Rawal in a negative role. Aditya Datt comes with a screenplay inspired by a reality show “Sach Ka Saamna” with a task attached to it and is followed by 8 million online viewers. Like Sach Ka Saamna, the flick is all about love, faith, truth and betrayal.Hollywood's ‘Death race' witnessed a somewhat similar concept where millions of viewers register themselves online and bid for their favourite rider to win the deadly race, while horrifying R-rated 'SAW' series had similar bloody tasks. But Table no.21 is just about a couple, who if wanted to survive, needs to be true at the show. Aditya Datt despite staying true to the concept doesn't deliver a nail-biting drama as expected with such a storyline. Though he adds some suspense and intensity on numerous occasions, he misses out its way as when the suspense unfurls after setting up the whole game show it leaves you with unexpected end. The loud message contained doesn't fit the plotting of the whole conspiracy. After leaving your seats you would wonder whether there was any need of viewership for the show or were those fake viewers?The Fiji Island is beautifully captured by the lensman displaying all the beautiful locations possible. The beaches, water fall mountains, Pacific Harbor and Suva City looms look good to the eyes. One surely would love to get intimate with his or her partner but our lead couple doesn't, as promoted in the trailers. All these beauties are packed in one song or could say are flourished within the few initial minutes of the drama.It was expected that when the table is now turned, the ‘Sach Ka Saamna' host Rajeev would give his best to win accolades with his performance like he gave in previous flicks particularly ‘Aamir' and ‘Shaitan'. He shows his intensity, desperation and frustration while being puzzled but we have seen his much better acts previously. Tena sizzles in the romantic track and displays good show altogether. Paresh Rawal with his new look, particularly with his hairstyle for the show, is not the best host, though we chuckle and stay solemn like the lead couple does in the flick while being puzzled. He shut the mouths of both with his witty one-liner. When Siya asks to quit the show realizing its illegal, Mr. Khan makes her count all the illegal yet considered legal activities in different countries like Peeing in a lake in Germany lake is illegal, a couple hanging their clothes to dry and making odd faces in front of dog is illegal in other countries.The two songs in the flick weren't required but were non-essentially finserted on two occasions.I'll go with 2.5 stars. Though ‘Table no.21' is not a good kick starter for Bollywood this year, but now when it's been two weeks for Dabanng 2 release and if you are looking for something new, the deadly quiz show could be an option or else wait for next week's release of Vishal Bhardwaj's “Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola”.