Panchayat the comedy-drama series on Amazon Prime Video, created by The Viral Fever, follows an engineering graduate who becomes a panchayat secretary in a fictional Uttar Pradesh village, due to limited job options. The show premiered on April 3, 2020, and garnered positive critical reception for its performances and rural setting. It won several accolades at the Filmfare OTT Awards. The second season was released early on May 20, 2022. A third season, focusing on panchayat elections, premiered on May 28, 2024, and a fourth season, now streaming on Prime Video promises an interesing show down between the two warring factions.
Story
The new season revolves around a dramatic election taking place in Phulera. Following the events of the previous season, Brij Bhushan Dubey (Raghubir Yadav), the unofficial Pradhan ji of Phulera, is on the mend after sustaining a gunshot wound to his shoulder, which is now in a sling. Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar), the Sachiv, finds himself in a predicament as Bhushan has filed charges against him under IPC Section 323. In retaliation, Pradhan ji has accused Bhushan (Durgesh Kumar) of attempted murder under Section 307, alleging that Bhushan conspired with MLA Chandrakishore Singh (Pankaj Jha) to take his life.
With the Panchayat elections looming, tensions are running high. Pradhan ji, Sachiv, Prahlad (Faisal Malik), and Vikas (Chandan Roy) are rallying support for Pradhan ji’s wife, Manju Devi (Neena Gupta). On the flip side, Bhushan, alongside Madhav (Bulloo Kumar) and Binod (Ashok Pathak), is fully committed to ensuring that his wife, Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar), becomes the new Pradhan of Phulera. This political rivalry sparks chaos, including fights, internal conflicts, corruption accusations, police interventions, and much more. The ensuing events shape the remainder of the series.
Performances
Jitendra Kumar continues to impress with his stellar performance. There is a noticeable shift in Sachiv’s demeanor; he is no longer easily frustrated by the villagers, having adapted to their ways. This transformation is conveyed thoughtfully by the skilled actor. Raghubir Yadav often has few or no lines in crucial scenes, yet his expressive eyes convey a powerful narrative. He excels in the moment when he confronts his family and friends.
Neena Gupta consistently impresses with her exceptional performance. Durgesh Kumar and Sunita Rajwar shine brilliantly, without a doubt. In this season, their characters are portrayed in a refreshing manner. Faisal Malik and Chandan Roy are charming, while Ashok Pathak endears himself as Vinod. He has a distinct subplot this time, which is truly memorable.
The ensemble, including Bulloo Kumar, Gaurav Singh (Chottan Singh; the MLA’s PA), Amit Kumar Maurya (Bam Bahadur), Tript Sahu (Khushbu; Vikas’s wife), Ram Gopal Bajaj (Nana ji), and Vishwanath Chatterjee (Sanjay Yadav; the cop), provides solid support. Swanand Kirkire makes a noticeable impact despite his limited screen time. Kirandeep Kaur (Chitra; the MLA’s daughter) again has minimal opportunity to shine. Lokesh Mittal (Chunnulal; the anti-corruption officer) is adequate, while Aan Tiwari (Billu, also known as Bill Clinton) is endearing.
Behind the scenes
Anurag Saikia’s music is decent, while the background score is intricately integrated into the story. Amitabh Singh’s cinematography is breathtaking, with the lensman excelling once more in capturing scenes of the village. The setting strikes a balance between realism and charm. Abhimanyu Jai’s production design and Karishma Vyas’ costumes reflect everyday life authentically. Action elements are kept to a minimum. Amit Kulkarni’s editing is refined and polished.
Final Analysis
Panchayat Season 4 has less focus on the main character’s story, instead emphasizing conflict between two factions. Despite some plot points feeling stretched and unanswered questions from the previous season, the show’s direction, dialogues, and humor make it entertaining. The season is “clean” with no abusive language, making it suitable for family viewing. New season is watchable but lacks the spark that was evident in previous season. Overall, the show’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses, likely leading to record-breaking viewership.
