Matka Movie Review: What's Good, What's Bad; Find Out

Varun Tej's latest film Matka, directed by Karuna Kumar, attempts to bring the gritty underworld of 1958-1982 Visakhapatnam to life.

Following the story of Vasu, a Matka gambler turned gangster, the movie shows his journey over 24 years. The female leads Meenakshi Chaudhary and Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi add some star power to the cast, alongside Saloni Aswani, Satyam Rajesh, and others.

While Matka boasts a strong lead performance from Varun Tej and a decent period setup, the film struggles to maintain interest. The story, though inspired by real-life incidents, falls into a predictable and clichéd narrative that fails to captivate.

Varun Tej is commendable in his role, and there are moments that shed light on the gang's workings, but these are too few and far between.

The background score by GV Prakash occasionally helps the scenes, but the songs feel misplaced, acting more like interruptions than enhancements. The film ultimately suffers from its slow pace and lack of fresh or exciting elements, testing the viewer's patience throughout.

Overall, Matka feels like a missed opportunity, delivering a story that neither thrills nor resonates. A stronger second half was needed to lift this film from the predictability it gets trapped in.

Pakka Telugu Media: #VarunTej #MatkaReview 🎞️ First Half
Story of #Matka Vasu, a refugee from Burma, facing power struggles in #Vizag
Ajay Ghosh, Naveen Chandra & Satyam Rajesh deliver standout performances.
#MeenakshiChaudhary & #NoraFatehi have limited screen presence.
Background music is decent.
Fight sequences are a major advantage.
Interval bang is goosebumps-worthy, showcasing Varun Tej's best performance.
Explores Matka gambling & pre-cellphone communication.
Period drama setting may have slight lag.

Gokul: Really verey level performance.
This character unveils a new dimension of #VarunTej, and it's his One Man Show, it's an out and out Mass Entertainer🔥
@gvprakash music shines & elevates the mass sequences to the next level.
Maro Gaddala Konda Ganesh ayye chance ithe undhi..