A study by an NGO has showed that 164 incidents and 19 deaths allegedly due to ragging were reported in the country in the last one year.The highest number of incidents was reported from Uttar Pradesh 26, followed by Andhra Pradesh 18, Tamil Nadu 14, Kerala 13 and West Bengal 11.Maharashtra 4, West Bengal 4 and Punjab 3 registered maximum deaths due to ragging, according to the study by CURE, which was established in 2001.
You might be wondering as to why have I noted down the above details, but I don’t wish to prolong the suspense – the movie that I have for the review today has its theme based on RAGGING.
Table Number 21 is a movie based on a real incident where the root cause is ragging. The movie was released on 4th January, 2013, starring Paresh Rawalas Mr. Abdul Razak Khan, Rajeev Khandelwal as Vivaan and Tena Desae as Siya. The story-line of the movie is that Vivaan and Siya go to Fiji to spend their vacation and celebrate their honeymoon and there they meet Mr. Khan who coaxes them to play a game. The game is simple, the couple will be asked eight questions, given eight tasks and the catch is that, as put by Mr. Khan, “If you lie, you die”. This game is said to be a live show and the participants cannot quit the game in the middle. The couple falls into Mr. Khan’s trap when he says that if the couple manages to finish the game abiding to its rules, then they would walk away with 21crores in their hands! The catch in the movie is the indifferent tasks given to the couple and this probes them to look back into the ‘ugly sides’ of their pasts.
The climax is the punishment given to the couple as Siya lies. Vivaan requests Mr. Khan to spare her life and Mr. Khan asks him to kill someone as the rule of the game says so. They then take the couple to a house and ask them to kill the boy in that house. When the couple see this boy, they recall their hideous mistakes done in their past. Yes, the boy was a victim of their ragging.
The movie constantly fluctuates between past and the present thus, catching the attention of the viewers and at the same time a sense of suspense is lingered throughout the movie. I personally liked the articulation of the scenes in the movie and I would give it a rating of 4.70 on a scale of 5.0.
First of all, love your blog's new look! Neat!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this movie despite it being a little predictable. It held my interest throughout and sought to deliver an important message. I liked the bit of research you've added in the beginning of your review!
Thank you Shivani!
DeleteAnd yes, most movies that are made today, though on a 'suspense' line are indeed predictable. 'Table Number 21' may have a very common theme but the approach in bringing out an effective message is something which has to be credited for. I thank you for 'bringing over' the movie for the hang out! :)
I would say this is one table which gives you stuff worth tasting and experiencing. The film might not have had a good run at the box office but it was indeed noticed by ardent film lovers and appreciated by the critics. I liked the film for its theme (though the theme is let out in the end) and for the performances. I feel Rajeev Khandelwal is too good an actor to be only seen in small screen. The effort of the film must be appreciated and lets hope more entertaining yet meaningful cinemas come our way.
ReplyDeleteAh... I didn't know of the movie's box office ratings, thank you for mentioning it Vivek!
DeleteI liked the story-line of the movie and the way the tasks given to the couple were comprehended to be punishments later on thus, the ultimate punishment being to take away the couple's happiness by leaving them to regret throughout their lives.
Paresh Rawal has given his best and Rajeev and Tena have also done a good job but not that very challenging I would say. It may be because they are still new or the characters' say in this movie wasn't really much a catalyst to bring out their abilities, I don't know but I felt they could have done better for they have the potential to do good work in the field of 'acting'.
One more surprise from you. I enjoyed the write up. When I was watching the movie I felt despite so many rules, news and widely announced stuff, still ragging prevails, in fact I read somewhere about a high profile guy saying proudly, that he was also a victim. Any ways coming to movie its well made movie I agree with your rating.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the review Sir. And I agree with you, despite several awareness on prevention of ragging and many anti-ragging squads hired up, this 'ragging' worm is almost impossible to wash away from our society. Hope we can make a difference!
DeleteI did watch few good movies recently, hope you will also enjoy these, if you get time
ReplyDeleteLincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty
I've heard that 'Lincoln' is a good movie. I shall make it it a point to watch the three movies soon. Thank you for mentioning it Sir!
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