A real treat for Telugu movie fans, especially Varun Tej fans! The trailer of the period action thriller ‘Matka’, directed by renowned director Karuna Kumar, was released on November 2, 2024 and went viral on X. In this film, Varun Tej plays the role of Matka gambler Ratan Khatri, while Meenakshi Choudhary and Nora Fatehi will be seen in key roles. The story, which takes place in Visakhapatnam from 1958 to 1982, is based on real-life events. Let’s see about the trailer, movie details, and fan reactions in this article
About ‘Matka’
‘Matka’ is a Telugu period action thriller, written and directed by Karuna Kumar of ‘Palaasa 1978’ fame. Produced by Vijender Reddy Teegala and Rajani Talluri under the banners of Vaira Entertainments and SRT Entertainments. Varun Tej plays the hero, Meenakshi Choudhary and Nora Fatehi (Telugu film debut) play the lead roles. Naveen Chandra, Ajay Ghosh, Kishore, John Vijay and Satyam Rajesh appear in supporting roles. The film is based on the life of Matka gambling king Ratan Khatri, and is set in Visakhapatnam between 1958-1982. In the story, Vasu (Varun Tej), a Burmese refugee, enters Visakhapatnam. After a stint in prison, he is drawn into the Matka gambling business and gets caught up in a complex world full of crime, fraud and betrayal. He eventually becomes a gangster and runs his own empire, but the twists and turns in the story are how betrayals and opposition to the government change his life. The film was released in theaters on November 14, 2024 in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, and will be streaming on Amazon Prime Video from December 5, 2024.
Trailer Highlights
The trailer of ‘Matka’ was released on November 2, 2024, and impressed the audience with its 2:48-minute runtime. The trailer highlights Vasu’s journey from the 1950s to the 1980s, set against the backdrop of Visakhapatnam. Varun Tej shows off his acting range, appearing in four different looks, as a young and middle-aged gangster. The trailer's visuals, which blend a retro tone, dark underworld vibe, and colorful elements, are impressive.
G.V. Prakash Kumar's background score adds intensity to the trailer, while Kishore Kumar's cinematography brings the atmosphere of 1960s Visakhapatnam to life. The retro songs starting with "Aaj Jaane Ki Jid Na Karo" and the scenes showing the risks of Matka gambling are intriguing. The trailer briefly shows Vasu's life between love, ambition, betrayal, and crime. Meenakshi Choudhary appears as Sujatha and Nora Fatehi as Sophia, adding an emotional and glamorous touch to the film.
Some appreciated the retro Visakhapatnam setting and Varun Tej's transformation in the trailer, while others felt that the story felt a bit like a predictable rags-to-riches formula. However, there were high expectations on Varun Tej's performance and Karuna Kumar's direction.
Technical Highlights
Directorship: Karuna Kumar showed his talent with 'Palaasa 1978'. In 'Matka', he brought retro Visakhapatnam alive and presented the crime drama in a stylish manner.
Cinematography: Kishore Kumar recreated the atmosphere of the 1950s-80s with black and white frames and retro color tones.
Music: G.V. Prakash Kumar's score added an intense vibe to the trailer. Songs “Le Le Raja” (October 14, 2024), “Tassadiyya” (October 24, 2024) have already become hits.
Production: The production design that recreates locations like Poorna Theater and Visakhapatnam Market Square is a highlight of the trailer.
Movie Expectations
The trailer of ‘Matka’ looks like a different endeavor in Varun Tej’s career. Although his previous films like ‘Gani’ and ‘Gaddalakonda Ganesh’ have achieved mixed results, his looks and intense performance in ‘Matka’ are impressive. The way Karuna Kumar handled a serious drama in the past with ‘Palaasa 1978’ has increased the confidence in this film.
However, some critics felt that the film’s story follows the rags-to-riches formula and may lack novelty. If the complex world of gambling, political nexus, and emotional drama shown in the trailer fills this gap, ‘Matka’ has a chance to succeed at the box office.
Conclusion
The ‘Matka’ trailer is a visual treat for Varun Tej fans and period action drama lovers. The retro Visakhapatnam setting, Varun Tej’s transformation, G.V. Prakash’s score, and Karuna Kumar’s vision have increased the hype for the film. The film, which was released in theaters on November 14, 2024, is streaming on Amazon Prime Video from December 5, 2024. Fans are eagerly waiting to see what kind of thrill this gambling empire story will offer and what turns Vasu’s journey will take.