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In the movie industry, box office receipts frequently reflect the reaction of the audience; sometimes they are positive, and other times they show the flaws. Varun Tej’s much awaited Matka had every indication of becoming a smash, but its Day 1 receipts seem to indicate otherwise. The movie opened to mediocre reviews and a lackluster reception at the box office, suggesting that while expectations were high, the reality was a little less glamorous. The response to this Karuna Kumar-directed and Vyra Entertainments-produced mafia drama was muted since it failed to live up to the early success of Tej’s previous works.

The protagonist of Matka is Varun Tej’s character Vasu, who is deeply ingrained in the gambling and corrupt industries. With the Matka gambling game as its backdrop, the movie examines Vasu’s ascent from poverty to prominence. The film’s early reception has been ambivalent, despite an intriguing premise and strong performances by the cast, which includes Meenakshi Choudhary and Nora Fatehi. Varun Tej fans were hoping for a high-octane smash, but the movie’s sluggish box office debut indicates that it could require more than just a compelling story and strong performances to make a difference.

Matka received mixed reviews on social media and only made a meager Rs. 0.70 crore on its first day of release. Matka has been left behind by Kanguva, a competitor that was published around the same time and has had a far more successful opening. Although the figures are not disastrous, they most definitely fall short of what is expected of a movie of this size. The movie will require more than a few encouraging tweets to change the tide, as theater occupancy is less than 20% and early reviews indicate a mixed reception.

As word of mouth spreads, fans continue to expect for an increase in collections as Matka settles into its weekend run. One can never undervalue the power of a good underdog story, so even if it might not have been the blockbuster Varun Tej was looking for, there is always hope for a comeback. I hope the Matka kings do not become pawns in the game of box office politics!