Varun Tej interview: 'Matka is stylized and entertaining but does not glorify gambling'

Matka is all set to hit screens on November 14, 2024. Varun Tej speaks to us about working on a period film, playing a middle-aged character, Karuna Kumar's brilliant direction, the failure of Operation Valentine, and much more. Excerpts:

Were you disappointed with Operation Valentine's failure?

I was very upset as I had pinned a lot of hopes on the film. Right from my debut, I’ve only picked films that are different from others. When I chose Operation Valentine, no one had made such a film in Telugu before. But for some reason, what was on paper did not translate onto the big screen. Also, the graphics disappointed everyone.

What attracted you to Karun Kumar's Matka?

I had watched Karuna Kumar's Palasa and loved the raw narration. The way he elevated drama in that film is my style of filmmaking. When he came to narrate a story about Matka King Ratan Khatri, I was super excited and gave the nod right away. Also, my character had different age groups to portray, allowing me to showcase my talent. That’s one of the reasons I signed the film.

Is Matka the biopic of Matka King Ratan Khatri?

You cannot call it a biopic. We have taken the story of Ratan Khatri and fictionalized it a lot. Only part of his life is showcased. The rest of the story is fictional and set in a new world from the late 70s. We’ve taken many cinematic liberties with Matka, but the scenes have been narrated in a very gripping and stylized manner.

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What is Matka all about?

Matka is the story of Vasu, who comes to the city of Vizag in the late 60s and slowly rises to become the undisputed king of the gambling world in that era. How he achieved such a cult following and formed a crazy syndicate has been showcased in a very cinematic manner by Karun Kumar. The episodic presentation of my character's different age groups will drive the film. All this will be quite entertaining but it does not glorify gambling or dons in any way. 

Tell us about your preparation for playing a Matka king?

A lot of effort went into getting the look right. As I played different age groups in the film, my team had sketches of how I would look at different ages. I grew long hair and sported a mustache for one portion. I am seen in a clean-shaven look for the earlier portions. We took a lot of help from AI to create different looks. I have never looked so different in any of my films so far, and my fans will love me in Matka.

About the massive scale of Matka?

Matka is my biggest film to date in terms of scope and budget. My director was confident that he could pull off everything on a specific budget, and he did it. Karuna Kumar had everything planned even before we went on set. From the camera angles to the lighting setup and editing, everything was carefully organized.

About GV Prakash's music?

GV Prakash is a man with immense talent. He is one of the biggest pillars of Matka. His impressive background score will give the audience a thrilling experience in theaters. There are four songs in the film, and you will enjoy them even more on the big screen.

Working with Meenakshi Chaudhary and Nora Fatehi?

Meenakshi is a wonderful person, and I had a lovely time working with her. Everything she touches seems to turn to gold these days, and I hope she’ll bring us luck with Matka. She plays my wife and brings a key twist to the film. Nora Fatehi's character is superbly executed. I can’t say more, but her presence in the film is a special treat for the masses.

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