Acclaimed filmmaker Nagraj Manjule, best known for directing cinematic milestones like Fandry, Sairat, and Jhund, has opened up about what finally convinced him to explore long-form storytelling on OTT. The director revealed that his foray into digital streaming with the upcoming Vijay Varma-starrer Matka King was not a calculated career move, but a creative shift sparked by his experience watching the hit HBO fantasy drama Game of Thrones.
During the lockdown, Manjule began watching Game of Thrones after receiving multiple recommendations. He noted that the experience fundamentally changed his perspective on how stories can be told. “I realised it (OTT) has a different strength,” Manjule shared in a recent interview. “When you watch it, you keep (binge) watching a long story.” This realization—that long-form storytelling could maintain narrative tension and deep character investment over many hours—convinced him of the unique potential of the medium.
The transition to Matka King happened organically. Manjule explained that when he met producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, they discovered they were already aligned on the project’s subject matter. The eight-episode series, which is set to debut on Prime Video on April 17, 2026, explores the life of Brij Bhatti, an enterprising cotton trader in 1960s Bombay. The show navigates a world of bustling markets, crowded chawls, and shifting power dynamics as Bhatti seeks legitimacy and respect.
For the director, who has carved a niche for himself by narrating stories of caste oppression and social realities in films like Sairat, Matka King offers a different canvas. He emphasized that he remains guided by his creative instincts rather than industry trends, stating, “Whatever stories I like, I’ll make. I neither follow the formula of success, nor am I afraid of failure.” Drawing on his own childhood memories of observing the Matka system—where he would place bets for others at local shops—Manjule has crafted an immersive world that he hopes will push his boundaries as a storyteller.
Key Highlights:
- Creative Inspiration: Nagraj Manjule credits binge-watching Game of Thrones during the lockdown for showing him the unique potential and strength of long-form OTT storytelling.
- OTT Debut: Manjule’s first digital series, Matka King, stars Vijay Varma as a cotton trader in 1960s Bombay and premieres on Prime Video on April 17, 2026.
- Authentic Vision: The filmmaker emphasized that his shift to OTT was a creative instinct rather than a calculated trend-following move, maintaining his focus on unique, non-formulaic stories.
- Childhood Roots: The series draws on Manjule’s own childhood memories of the Matka gambling system, recreating the complex social landscape of 1960s Bombay.