Matka King spins high stakes drama, But loses pace in the middle
Mumbai: Amazon Prime Video’s latest crime drama Matka King delivers style, scale and a powerful lead performance from Vijay Varma, but the series struggles to maintain its momentum across eight episodes.
Directed by Nagraj Manjule, the Hindi-language web series is set in 1960s Bombay and traces the rise of the city’s illegal Matka gambling empire. Inspired by real-life events, the story follows Brij Bhatti, played by Varma, a cotton trader who transforms a small betting system into a booming underground business that captures the imagination of ordinary people and the attention of powerful enemies.
As Brij rises through Bombay’s shadow economy, the show explores ambition, power, betrayal and the personal cost of success. The series also features Kritika Kamra, Sai Tamhankar and Gulshan Grover in important supporting roles.
The biggest strength of Matka King is Varma’s performance. He brings both confidence and emotional depth to Brij, making the character believable and engaging even when the screenplay weakens. Kritika Kamra adds balance to the emotional side of the story, while Sai Tamhankar leaves a strong impact in family-driven scenes.
The production design deserves equal praise. From vintage streets to old Bombay trading hubs, the makers recreate the 1960s atmosphere with strong visual detail. The background score and cinematography also support the gritty mood of the show.
However, the writing does not always match the ambition. After a gripping opening, the narrative slows down with repetitive subplots and stretched emotional tracks. The middle episodes lose tension, and the climax feels less powerful than expected. The series often appears unsure whether it wants to be a gangster thriller, a family drama or a character study.
Audience reactions online have been mixed. While many praised Varma’s acting and the period setting, others pointed to slow pacing and an uneven script. IMDb early responses also reflect interest driven largely by the lead performance rather than unanimous praise for the overall series.
Matka King may not become one of India’s finest crime dramas, but it remains worth watching for Vijay Varma’s commanding screen presence and its strong recreation of old Bombay.
