I’m going with two out of five for director Aditya Datt’s Table No 21. Even dependable actors like Paresh Rawal and Rajeev Khandelwal sleepwalk through their roles.

Echoing films as diverse as Oldboy and Slumdog Millionaire, director Aditya Datt creates a reality game show-revenge saga that gathers some steam in the last act, but by then it’s too little, too late.

Table No. 21 should be watched for the reactive social commentary that it is, and should not be misconceived as a vigilante film.

The drama is woven around a welter of lies, betrayal and brutality. The lead pair is trapped in a web that is as much of their own making as it is of the man who manipulates them like a master puppeteer. But rarely does this dark thriller hit home with sufficient force.

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!

Table No 21 may not be the perfect start to 2013 we were looking for, but it’s a well-paced thriller with some highs and quite a few lows, and it’s never boring.

Table No. 21 is a shameful waste of some really good actors where the makers sleepwalked through the entire film. Best to avoid this one.

On the whole, 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!

‘Table No. 21’ might just be one film that is instrumental in turning the tables of the game around. In the Hindi film industry of the day, where a lot of mindless stuff is churned out under the guise of ‘films’ every year, Datt’s thriller is one that is a welcome break.