The protagonists of both 'Matka' (November 14th release) and 'Lucky Baskhar' have certain obvious similarities. They both epitomize greed, they both are deviants, they both rationalize their misdeeds, and they both are filthy rich.
However, director Karuna Kumar's treatment (going by the Trailer of 'Matka') comes across as quite basic. Director Venky Atluri's treatment of Baskhar's rise in 'Lucky Baskhar' is stylized and sophisticated. The framing and staging in 'Matka' don't seem to be anywhere close.
A lot of filmmakers get carried away by the subject at hand. They believe some heroic swag and mass moments will do. 'Matka' seems to fall into this category of misguided storytelling. There are mass moments in 'Lucky Baskhar' but the film never goes too far; it maintains a certain logical coherence throughout. Baskhar looks vulnerable. On the other hand, in 'Matka', Varun Tej's Vasu is more in the Pushpa Raj zone. If the audience compare 'Matka' to the 'Pushpa' duology, what will be the consequences?
'Lucky Baskhar' didn't hinge too much on Dulquer's ability to look massy. The actor just had to be himself and the rest was taken care of by the excellent script. In 'Matka', the hero moments seem heavily reliant on Varun Tej's ability to be a charmer.
