Matka Review

Matka is Varun Tej's prestigious film to date. Directed by Karuna Kumar, the period drama has Meenakshi Chaudhary and Nora Fatehi as the leading ladies. Read our detailed review here.

Story

Vasu (Varun Tej), who flees Burma and arrives in Visakhapatnam, is imprisoned for murder and starts working as a laborer in Poorna Market. There, he clashes with local don Ammoru and businessman KB (John Vijay) while trying to protect his employer, Appala Reddy (Ajay Ghosh). As Ammoru and KB attempt to kill him, Nani (Kishore) steps in to save his life. How does Vasu's journey lead to the creation of the nationwide gambling game "Matka"? What actions did Prime Minister Indira Gandhi take that even angered her? What happens in the end? The film answers all these questions.

Analysis

Director Karuna Kumar has crafted a fictional story based on a real-life character. However, the portrayal of the character's journey lacks entertainment value, particularly the depiction of the hero's growth from 1952 to 1982. The film misses key elements of ups and downs, which are essential to any character's journey.

The narrative is dominated by the writer Karuna Kumar, overshadowing his direction, and as a result, the written scenes and dialogues take precedence over the overall storytelling. In the second half, Varun Tej's daughter lies on his lap, and the "goat-puli" story is introduced in a brief, this gives an idea that the film starts making sense and is one of the best parts.

Varun Tej delivers a commendable performance, especially with the physical transformation to portray four variations of his character. His maturity in gestures and dialogue delivery is impressive, marking a step forward in his career. One can say it is an award-winning performance by Varun Tej. He played the role to the galleries and especially the mature Varun is too good to see on screen.

Meenakshi Chowdary's role is limited to one song and four scenes, offering little opportunity for her to showcase her acting skills. Kishore and John Vijay perform well in their typical villain roles. Naveen Chandra's screen presence is good, but his character lacks development. Satyam Rajesh, Saloni, and others perform adequately in their roles. Nora Fatehi, despite being the highest-paid actress in the film, doesn't have a significant role.

The production and art departments are the film's real heroes, with impressive attention to detail in recreating the market and setting the period accurately. G.V. Prakash's music and background score are underwhelming, and the sound mixing is not well-executed. The cinematography is decent, and the action sequences are moderately impressive, though the editing could have been sharper. The crucial "Matka" game, which should have been properly established, is underdeveloped.

Verdict

Overall, Matka is Varun Tej's show all the way. While he impresses with his terrific performance, the narrative is a bit outdated and emotions look forced. All those who love crime dramas from the bygone era can give this film a shot but keep your expectations in check.