The show is now streaming on Prime Video. Read MensXP's Matka King review below.

Matka King Story

In 1960s Mumbai, an enterprising cotton trader (Vijay Varma) who craves legitimacy and respect, starts a new gambling game dubbed 'Matka', that takes the city by storm and democratizes a terrain previously reserved for the rich and elite.

© Prime Video

Matka King Review

Created and directed by Nagraj Popatrao Manjule and created and written by Abhay Koranne, Matka King walks into a very familiar territory that you may have seen in numerous other movies and shows, including Scam 1992.

However, what makes the show highly watchable and entertaining despite that is Nagraj Manjule's direction, the screenplay, the characters and the terrific star cast.

Despite beingeight episodes long, Matka King is quite pacy in its narrative and keeps you engaged. There isn't a single dull moment even when you feel the story is predictable.

Having said that, Matka King is the kind of show that you'll enjoy watching but will forget soon after mainly because of the "seen it before" feeling that's constantly there with you in the back of your mind.

© Prime Video

Coming to the set design, the show has done well to get the vibe of Bombay in the late '60s and '70s. But the attention to detail isn't as much as it should have been. For example, during a sequence set in 1967, the song that plays is from 1969.

Matka King Cast Performances

Vijay Varma carries the show effectively on his able shoulders and has the gravitas of a guy who goes from rags to riches after finding a loophole in the system. Beyond the dialogues and antics, it's his silence and body language that make him the "Matka King".

Kritika Kamra has a likeable screen presence and is effective as "Matka Queen". She is terrific and deserves to be seen more on our screens.

Sai Tamhankar as Vijay Varma's wife delivers a strong performance as a woman who seems to be a second fiddle to her husband but is much more than she is credited. She is an independent woman who calls out her husband's wrong deed despite initially being a lower-middle-class homemaker.

It's so good to see Gulshan Grover in a substantial role on OTT doing what he does best and has been doing for decades with utmost ease. He is brilliant.

© Prime Video

Siddharth Jadhav gets the meaty role of a character who is more than a sidekick or a comic relief. He is often the voice of reason and is also the show's narrator.

Bhupendra Jadawat, Girish Kulkarni, Bharat Jadhav, Jamie Lever and Cyrus Sahukar have all delivered solid acts.

Matka King Verdict

Overall, Matka King is worthy of your time. It is a show that's entertaining, engaging and ambitious, even if it lacks a novelty factor.

Matka King Rating: 3.5/5