Matka King Review: Vijay Varma’s Performance Can’t Save a Series That Folds Early
Cast: Vijay Varma, Kritika Kamra, Sai Tamhankar, Bhupendra Jadawat, Siddharth Jadhav
Creator: Abhay Koranne, Nagraj Popatrao Manjule
Director: Nagraj Popatrao Manjule
Streaming On: Prime Video
Language: Hindi
Runtime: 8 episodes of 50 minutes each
Star Rating: 2.0
Nagpur’s own Nagraj Manjule usually delivers cinema with a sharp socio-political sting, but his latest venture, Matka King, feels like a missed bet. Spanning eight episodes, the series attempts to chronicle the rise of Brij Bhatti a man who transforms the gambling landscape of Mumbai—but the show ultimately stumbles under the weight of its own confused screenplay.
The show is built on a single, poignant philosophy: “Ameer ho ya Gareeb, sabka petrol ek hi hai – Ummeed” (Whether rich or poor, everyone runs on the same fuel—hope). Bhatti uses this hope to build an empire, positioning himself as a messiah for the working class through the game of Matka. However, as his business empire grows on a foundation of “honesty” toward his punters, his personal life dissolves into a messy web of lies.
Performances
If there is a reason to watch Matka King, it is the cast. The series thrives on its performances even when the writing fails:
- Vijay Varma: Effortlessly brilliant. He brings a grounded authenticity to Brij Bhatti, navigating the duality of an “honest gambler” and a “dishonest husband” with ease.
- The Supporting Cast: This is the show’s greatest strength. Sai Tamhankar provides a necessary emotional anchor, and Kritika Kamra commands the screen with grace as Gulrukh. Siddharth Jadhav and Girish Kulkarni shine in their respective roles, though Gulshan Grover’s character feels surprisingly thin.
Direction and Other Elements
For a director like Nagraj Manjule (Sairat, Jhund), Matka King feels uncharacteristically weak. The direction spirals into a confused mix of gritty reality and forced glamour.
- The Script: After a promising first three episodes, the narrative loses its way, oscillating between a thriller, a biopic, and a daily soap.
- The Setting: For a show set in the 1960s and 70s, the visual grammar is a major letdown. The sets fail to transport the viewer back in time, lacking the authentic “Bombay” texture required for a period piece.
- The Music: Even Amit Trivedi’s score fails to strike a chord, feeling disconnected from the 60s heartbeat and often slowing down an already struggling pace.
Last Word
The core issue with Matka King is that it refuses to take risks. Brij Bhatti is painted as a “good man at heart” criminal a trope that has become exhausted in Indian web series. By trying to make the protagonist likeable rather than complex, the show loses its edge.
As one character tells Bhatti, “You aren’t even properly bad; if you were, life would be easier.” The same can be said for the series: it tries to be “good” but falls into the trap of being “regular.” In a world of high-stakes digital content, no one really wins with regular.
