Prime Video Renewed for Second Season of 'Matka King' Series

Prime Video India has confirmed the return of its crime drama series 'Matka King' for a second season. The announcement comes on the heels of the show's remarkable performance during its debut, having achieved the highest viewership among new Indian scripted shows on the platform in the last two years. Featuring Vijay Varma in a leading role, 'Matka King' is set against the vibrant backdrop of 1960s Bombay, now known as Mumbai. The plot centres around Brij Bhatti, a modest cotton trader who ascends to become an underground gambling kingpin by introducing the 'Matka' game, a popular betting method in India that allows for greater public participation compared to traditional gambling. As the game's popularity surges, Brij’s character becomes increasingly consumed by ambition, power, and wealth. While specific details about the second season's storyline remain under wraps, Prime Video issued a statement hinting that the excitement surrounding the 'Matka' game is far from concluded, declaring, "The game of Matka is far from over, and neither is Brij Bhatti’s reign. 'Matka King' Season 2 is where the real stake begins." The first season launched globally on April 17 and quickly gained traction, trending in the top 10 list on Prime Video across 37 countries and reaching the number one spot in 17 territories during its opening week. The series has been authored and created by Abhay Koranne and Nagraj Popatrao Manjule, who also serves as the director. The production team from the first season comprises prominent figures including Siddharth Roy Kapur, Popatrao Manjule, Gargi Kulkarni, Ashwini Sidwani, and Ashish Aryan, under the banners of Roy Kapur Films, Aatpat, and SMR Entertainment. Vijay Varma is joined in the cast by Kritika Kamra, Sai Tamhankar, Siddharth Jadhav, Bhupendra Jadawat, and well-known actor Gulshan Grover, along with an extensive ensemble that includes Bharat Jadhav, Girish Kulkarni, and Jamie Lever, among others. This revival of 'Matka King' underscores Prime Video's growing influence in the Indian entertainment landscape. Senior executives at Amazon frequently cite India as a critical market for subscriber growth. Although the company does not disclose precise subscriber figures, estimates suggest that Prime Video in India has garnered over 20 million paying customers, making it a formidable competitor to other platforms like JioHotstar. Earlier this year, Prime Video revealed an ambitious slate of 69 original titles, which included the news of 'Matka King' Season 2. Furthermore, developments indicate a strategic merge between Prime Video and its Amazon counterpart, Amazon MX Player, which promises to reshape the competitive streaming environment in India significantly.