Opening Doorz

By Martin D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | April 23, 2026

Rating: 3/5

The Essence: In this Matka King Review, it’s clear that despite certain narrative hiccups, two elements keep the series anchored: the set design (Yogita Narvekar) and Vijay Varma. You cannot have a strong period plot without a matching atmosphere. The show goes all the way back to the mid-sixties, capturing a sparse Bombay and the vast mill lands that were eventually swallowed by real estate greed.

Creativity is often the tool of the mentally imbalanced—those who are restless until their work speaks for them. Many creators know they have the power to strike a chord deep within the viewer, yet they frequently shy away, paralysed by the fear of rejection. The thought of “what will people say” often leads to an incompetence that refuses to wager on the fine line of risk. But for those who clear that hurdle and swim against the tide, we get bold attempts at storytelling like Matka King.

Matka King Review

It is raw, real, and relatable, especially to those who have ever wagered in the hope of a quick return. The series captures the vice-like grip the gambling craze had on the middle-class worker of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Back then, a few rupees wagered on random numbers meant a princely amount. Being hooked on satta was akin to grass—the lure of the greener side. But that greenery was a mirage; it was a shot in the dark that everyone was willing to take, and therein lies the tragedy.

Families were ruined by this abyss, much like the devastation caused by heroin or ganja. This brings us to the tragic figure of Brij Bhatti. On one hand, he views himself as a messiah; on the other, he is systematically collecting the hard-earned money of the lower middle class, filling barrels and mattresses with cash.

To himself, Bhatti is the epitome of integrity. He keeps his word and makes good on his promises even when facing losses. This credibility fuels his messiah complex, eventually leading him to stray from his marriage bed in search of freedom from the mundane. But the forbidden fruit has consequences. You may appear calm and cool on the outside, but if there is no outlet for the internal uproar, the core begins to rot even as the facade crumbles.

Brij Bhatti is an honest man who succeeds in giving his family a better life, only to spiral under the weight of his own calibrated expectations of how society should perceive him.

The Stars and the Stumbles

After the fourth episode, Matka King unfortunately becomes monotonous in a typical Bollywood fashion. It spirals toward a predictable plot—a great narrative lost in translation. One sequence that is particularly jarring and sticks out like a sore thumb is the arrest of the telephone operator, Sulbha (played by Jamie Lever), from a five-star hotel and her subsequent incarceration.

Sulbha was on Bhatti’s payroll, engaged by his most trusted lieutenant, Dagdu (Siddharth Jadhav). It is a glaring plot hole: a man walking around with barrels of cash and immense local influence is somehow unable to secure her release. This loop in the narrative suffocates the episodes that follow, leaving a nagging “why” at the back of the viewer’s mind that is never quite satisfied.

Despite these narrative hiccups, two elements keep it anchored: the set design (Yogita Narvekar) and Vijay Varma.

You cannot have a strong period plot without a matching atmosphere. Matka King goes all the way back to the mid-sixties, capturing a sparse Bombay and the vast mill lands that were eventually swallowed by real estate greed.

Varma is an actor par excellence. He sheds the skin of his past roles to immerse himself in a new layer of creativity. With him, you see only the character—never the actor or his past personas. He is top-tier, delivering a performance rarely seen in Indian cinema (perhaps only rivalled by Jaideep Ahlawat in Paatal Lok).

In business parlance, Vijay Varma is the horse you bet on; his presence ensures a 100x return on the project’s emotional and creative investment.

The Supporting Cast

Sai Tamhankar, playing Bhatti’s wife, is another standout performer who brings authenticity to the screen. Unfortunately, the rest of the supporting cast often feels plastic or over-rehearsed.

Then there is Gulshan Grover, who feels like the complete opposite of modern acting. He remains stuck in the Bad Man mould of the 80s. Today’s audiences have evolved; the 2026 generation demands quality and growth, not a hoarse voice and outdated tropes. The producers could have tilted the balance in favour of Matka King’s gravitas with a more nuanced casting choice here.

Despite its mid-series slump and some archaic supporting performances, Matka King stands out because of its atmosphere and Varma’s powerhouse performance. It is a gritty look at a mirage that promised a fortune but delivered only tragedy for the common man.

The final scene makes it amply evident that Season 2 is on the horizon. However, how Manjule will keep the story relevant remains to be seen. He has a major challenge on his hands; a return to the drawing board is essential before planning the next instalment. If he intends to regain the sharpness of those first four episodes, he will have to resurrect the plot.

CREDITS
Producers: Rahul Gandhi
Director: Nagraj Manjule
Star Cast: Vijay Varma, Sai Tamhankar, Gulshan Grover, Jamie Lever, Siddharth Jadhav

Also Read

The Housemaid Movie Review: Waste of Time

Paatal Lok Season 2 Review: A Masterpiece of Storytelling

Toofan Movie Review: A boxing showreel for Farhan Akhtar!