{{short description|2026 Indian period-crime drama series}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox television | image = Matka King (TV series).jpg | caption = Promotional poster | genre = Drama | creator = Abhay Koranne<br />Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | writer = Abhay Koranne<br />Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | story = Ashish Aryan | director = Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | starring = {{Plainlist| * Vijay Varma * Sai Tamhankar * Bhupendra Jadawat * Kritika Kamra * Gulshan Grover * Siddharth Jadhav}} | theme_music_composer = Ajay Jayanthi | open_theme = Matka King - Title Theme | end_theme = | composer = '''Songs:'''<br />Amit Trivedi<br />B Prasanna<br />Parag Chabbra<br />'''Score:'''<br />Ketan Sodha | country = India | language = Hindi | num_seasons = 1 | num_episodes = 8 | list_episodes = | executive_producer = Rahul Gandhi <br /> Ashwini Sidwani | producer = {{ubl | Siddharth Roy Kapur | Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | Gargi Kulkarni | Ashwini Sidwani | Ashish Aryan}} | cinematography = Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti | editor = Nitin Baid | runtime = 43{{ndash}}62 minutes | company = Roy Kapur Films<br>Aatpat Entertainment<br>SMR Entertainment | network = Amazon Prime Video | first_aired = {{Start date|df=y|2026|04|17}} | last_aired = present }}
'''''Matka King''''' is a 2026 Indian Hindi-language period crime drama television series created by Nagraj Popatrao Manjule and Abhay Koranne based on the story concept by Ashish Aryan for Amazon Prime Video. It stars Vijay Varma, Sai Tamhankar, Bhupendra Jadawat, Kritika Kamra, Gulshan Grover and Siddharth Jadhav in lead roles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Matka King |url=https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/matka-king-web-series-124862 |website=GAdget 360 |access-date=18 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitra |first1=Shilajit |title=How A 'Matka King' Was Born: Vijay Varma, Nagraj Manjule on Their Gambling Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/features/interviews/how-a-matka-king-was-born-vijay-varma-nagraj-manjule-on-their-gambling-series |access-date=19 April 2026 |work=The Hollywood Reporter India |date=15 April 2026 |language=en}}</ref> Set in the 1960s Mumbai, the series traces the transformation of a humble, enterprising cotton trader into a powerful gambling don as he starts a new game called Matka, that takes the city by storm and democratizes a terrain previously reserved for the rich and elite.
The series is renewed for a second season by Amazon Prime Video which is in development.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 May 2026 |last=Whittock |first=Jesse |title='Matka King': Prime Video Crowns Second Season Of Crime Drama Set In 1960s India |url=https://deadline.com/2026/05/matka-king-prime-video-season-2-india-1236882674/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=9 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 May 2026 |title=Vijay Varma's 'Matka King' set to return with season 2 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/vijay-varmas-matka-king-set-to-return-with-season-2/articleshow/130894116.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=9 May 2026}}</ref>
== Premise == Matka King is a gripping crime drama set in the 1960s Mumbai. The series builds its world around a modest cotton trader, Brij Bhatti, who, starts an illegal "Matka" betting game, showing how a small, almost harmless gambling idea gradually evolves into a massive underground empire that is controlled by money, politics, and fear.
At its core, the show is less about gambling and more about ambition. It explores how greed reshapes a man's morals as he climbs from poverty to power, and how that power slowly begins to destroy everything around him. Vijay Varma delivers a strong and controlled performance, carrying the emotional weight of a man who is both intelligent and deeply flawed.
== Cast == * Vijay Varma as Brij Bhatti "Matka King" * Sai Tamhankar as Barkha Bhatti, Brij's wife * Bhupendra Jadawat as Laxman "Lachu" Bhatti, Brij's brother * Kritika Kamra as Gulrukh * Gulshan Grover as Laljibhai Chaggani * Siddharth Jadhav as Dagdu Vichare * Jamie Lever as Sulbha * Bharat Jadhav as Sub Inspector Eknath Tumbade * Girish Kulkarni as TP D'Souza * Kishor Kadam as Minister Prashant Bapat * Ridan Shah as Anmol Bhatti, Brij's son * Arpita Sethia as Rukmani * Cyrus Sahukar as Maqsood * Ishtiyak Khan * Simran Ashwini as Vasudha, Lalji's daughter * Samir Trimbakkar as DCP MK Sharma * Sanjeev Jogtiyani as Editor-in-Chief * Tanaji Galgunde as Raftaar * Vineet Kumar Singh as Darab Ahmed Wadkar (special appearance)<ref>{{cite web |access-date=19 April 2026 |title=O'Romeo, Dhurandhar The Revenge, Matka King: How ‘Bade Sahab’ returned in 3 different avatars in 3 consecutive months |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/oromeo-dhurandhar-the-revenge-matka-king-how-bade-sahab-returned-in-3-different-avatars-in-3-consecutive-months/ |website=Bollywood Hungama}}</ref>
== Episodes == {{Episode table |background=#A42C17 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes= {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 1 | Title = Taqdeer, Tadbeer, Tarkeeb! | DirectedBy = Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | WrittenBy = Abhay Koranne, Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2026|4|17|df=y}} | ShortSummary = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website --> | LineColor = A42C17 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 2 | Title = Umeed Ka Karkhana | DirectedBy = Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | WrittenBy = Abhay Koranne, Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2026|4|17|df=y}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = A42C17 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 3 | Title = Izzat Half, Sangam Full | DirectedBy = Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | WrittenBy = Abhay Koranne, Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2026|4|17|df=y}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = A42C17 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 4 | Title = Tera Pyaar Triple Paana, Mera Pyaar Kabootar Daana | DirectedBy = Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | WrittenBy = Abhay Koranne, Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2026|4|17|df=y}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = A42C17 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 5 | Title = Safed Kapde, Kaale Dil | DirectedBy = Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | WrittenBy = Abhay Koranne, Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2026|4|17|df=y}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = A42C17 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 6 | Title = Lights, Camera, Jodi | DirectedBy = Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | WrittenBy = Abhay Koranne, Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2026|4|17|df=y}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = A42C17 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 7 | Title = Do Ikke, Ek Gulaam | DirectedBy = Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | WrittenBy = Abhay Koranne, Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2026|4|17|df=y}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = A42C17 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 8 | Title = Open Aur Close | DirectedBy = Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | WrittenBy = Abhay Koranne, Nagraj Popatrao Manjule | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2026|4|17|df=y}} | ShortSummary = | LineColor = A42C17 }} }}
== Soundtrack == {{Infobox album | name = Matka King | type = soundtrack | artist = | released = {{start date|2026|4|10|df=y}} | studio = | genre = Television soundtrack | length = {{Duration|m=18|s=23}} | language = Hindi | label = Sony Music India | producer = | misc = {{external music video |type = soundtrack |header = Official audio | {{Youtube|-f5wnnDcqGw|Matka King (Jukebox)}} }} }}
{{Track listing | headline = Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | total_length = 18:14 | title1 = Hoga Savera - Retro | lyrics1 = Kumaar, Shantanu Raina | music1 = Amit Trivedi | extra1 = Simran Choudhary, Shantanu Raina | length1 = 2:51 | title2 = Raasta | lyrics2 = Abhay Koranne, Parag Chhabra | music2 = Vineeth Jayan, Mayank Choudhary, Parag Chhabra | extra2 = Yashika Sikka, Parag Chhabra | length2 = 3:40 | title3 = Dhaaga Dhaaga | lyrics3 = Arushi Kaushal | music3 = B Prasanna | extra3 = Keerthana Vaidyanathan | length3 = 3:00 | title4 = Bhaga Re | lyrics4 = Kumaar | music4 = Amit Trivedi, Vaibhav Pani | extra4 = Amit Trivedi, Jyotsana Vaidya | length4 = 4:48 | title5 = Hoga Savera - Modern | lyrics5 = Kumaar, Shantanu Raina | music5 = Amit Trivedi | extra5 = Simran Choudhary; Shantanu Raina | length5 = 2:51 | title6 = Matka King - Title Theme | lyrics6 = Instrumental | music6 = Ajay Jayanthi | extra6 = Instrumental | length6 = 1:04 }}
== Release == ''Matka King'' began streaming on Amazon Prime Video from 17 April 2026.<ref>{{cite news |title=‘Matka King’: Vijay Varma’s Prime Video series gets a release date; teaser out |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/matka-king-vijay-varmas-prime-video-series-gets-a-release-date-teaser-out/article70798951.ece |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 April 2026 |work=The Hindu |date=29 March 2026 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Raghav |first1=Vanshika |title=New Friday OTT Releases (April 17, 2026): Matka King, Assi, Roommates- Watch these 5 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar and more |url=https://www.wionews.com/photos/new-friday-ott-releases-april-17-2026-matka-king-assi-roommates-watch-these-5-movies-and-tv-shows-on-netflix-prime-video-jiohotstar-and-more-1776342036895 |access-date=19 April 2026 |work=WION |date=17 April 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
== Reception == Anuj Kumar for ''The Hindu'' wrote "‘Matka King’ turns out to be a familiar but gripping crime drama that is worth betting on."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Anuj |title=‘Matka King’ series review: A cautionary tale on the cost of ambition that pays rich dividends |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/matka-king-series-review-vijay-varma-nagraj-manjule-prime-video-sai-tamhankar/article70872309.ece |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 April 2026 |work=The Hindu |date=17 April 2026 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
Shubhra Gupta for ''The Indian Express'' rated the series 2/5 stars and stated "the matka-addicted mill-workers and their unions whose movement kept Bombay's greedy sharks at bay, remain a scratchy backdrop."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Shubhra |author1-link=Shubhra Gupta |title=Matka King review: Vijay Varma show lacks zest and sharpness |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/matka-king-review-vijay-varma-show-lacks-zest-and-sharpness-10641385/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 April 2026 |work=The Indian Express |date=17 April 2026 |language=en}}{{rating|2|5}}</ref>
Rahul Desai for ''The Hollywood Reporter India'' wrote "Along the way, there are glimpses of the intellect buried within the algorithm."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Desai |first1=Rahul |title=‘Matka King’ Series Review: A Gambling Drama That Takes No Risks |url=https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/reviews/streaming/matka-king-series-review-a-gambling-drama-that-takes-no-risks |access-date=19 April 2026 |work=The Hollywood Reporter India |date=17 April 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
Deepansh Duggal for ''The Quint'' stated "Instead of unfolding organically, the plot feels like it is delivered in bursts, with too much information packed into too little time."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Duggal |first1=Deepansh |title=‘Matka King’ Review: A Flawed but Compelling Rise of a Gambling Don |url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/matka-king-review-vijay-varma-amazon-prime |access-date=19 April 2026 |work=The Quint |date=17 April 2026 |language=en}}{{rating|3|5}}</ref> Nandini Ramnath for ''Scroll.in'' felt that "The eight-episode show suffers from a bit of bloat and threadbare production values."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ramnath |first1=Nandini |title=‘Matka King’ review: A winning character study of an ‘honest gambler’ |url=https://scroll.in/reel/1092069/matka-king-review-a-winning-character-study-of-an-honest-gambler |access-date=19 April 2026 |work=Scroll.in |date=17 April 2026 |language=en}}</ref> Sana Farzeen of ''India Today'' rated the series 3/5 stars and stated "At eight episodes, it feels indulgent."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farzeen |first1=Sana |title=Matka King review: Vijay Varma wins big, but the series misses the jackpot |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/matka-king-review-vijay-varma-kritika-kamra-gulshan-grover-siddharth-jadhav-jamie-lever-sai-tamhankar-2897474-2026-04-17 |access-date=19 April 2026 |work=India Today |date=17 April 2026 |language=en}}{{rating|3|5}}</ref>
Tatsam Mukherjee of ''The Wire'' expressed "No man-woman pair in the show can do so without falling in love, which I found too escapist and dated."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Tatsam |title=‘Matka King’: Nagraj Manjule’s Series Repeats Genre Beats, Falls into Familiar Traps |url=https://thewire.in/film/matka-king-nagraj-manjules-series-repeats-genre-beats-amazon-prime-video-vijay-varma-review |access-date=19 April 2026 |work=The Wire |date=17 April 2026 |language=en}}</ref> Hardika Gupta from ''NDTV'' rated the series 2 out of 5 stars and stated "The result is a story that moves, but rarely surprises; that speaks, but rarely resonates."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Hardika |title=Matka King Review: Vijay Varma Plays A Strong Hand In A Losing Game |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/matka-king-review-vijay-varma-plays-a-strong-hand-in-a-losing-game-2-stars-11381812 |access-date=25 April 2026 |work=NDTV |date=20 April 2026}}{{rating|2|5}}</ref> A reviewer from ''Amar Ujala'' rated the series 2.5/5.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jain |first1=Kiran Vinod Kumar |title=Matka King Review: बड़ा कैनवास, विजय वर्मा और 1960 का दौर; जानें ‘मटका किंग’ ने खेली कैसी बाजी? पढ़ें रिव्यू |url=https://www.amarujala.com/entertainment/movie-review/new-web-series-matka-king-review-starring-vijay-varma-gulshan-grover-kritika-kamra-sai-tamhankar-2026-04-16 |access-date=25 April 2026 |work=Amar Ujala |date=17 April 2026 |language=hi}}{{rating|2.5|5}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title|16997004}} * [https://www.primevideo.com/region/eu/detail/Matka-King/0NU8T0IBSKNM4URECC0CAKT8GZ ''Matka King''] on Amazon Prime Video
Category:2026 Indian television series debuts Category:Amazon Prime Video original programming