Season 3 of Panchayat has premiered on Amazon Prime Video, offering a delightful experience. The charm of the OTT series lies in its straightforward and relatable depiction of rural life. Staying true to its essence, Panchayat Season 3 broadens the show’s scope beyond comedy, enabling the central characters to develop and delve into more significant themes throughout its eight episodes. TVF continues to excel in crafting shows that feel like a comforting embrace, and this sentiment carries over into the third season of Panchayat. With its beautiful writing, nuanced performances, and a more realistic portrayal of rural India, this season surpasses the high standard set by its predecessors. It evokes a range of emotions, from smiles to tears, laughter to contemplation, and might even prompt viewers to research the workings of panchayat in villages. It reunites the familiar faces – Pradhan Ji (played by Raghubir Yadav), Sachiv Ji (played by Jitendra Kumar), Prahlad Ji (played by Faisal Malik), Vidhayak Ji (played by Pankaj Jha), Manju Devi (played by Neena Gupta), and others, providing another glimpse into the village politics of Phulera.
Panchayat Season 2 concluded on a dramatic note with the death of Prahlad’s (Faisal Malik) son. The climax featured Panchayat head Manju Devi (Neena Gupta) confronting a local MLA (Pankaj Jha) who sought to exploit the tragedy for political gain. The season ended on a cliffhanger with Panchayat ‘Sachiv’ Abhishek Tripathi being transferred.
When Panchayat was released, it provided a refreshing change in a landscape saturated with high-octane web series. One of the key strengths of Panchayat’s first two seasons was their embrace of the mundane, offering viewers an escape to the simple life of Phulera. The show functioned almost like an anthology, with each episode addressing an everyday issue faced by the villagers, leading to humorous situations and heartwarming moments.
The third season has shifted towards more serious themes compared to its light-hearted predecessors. While the second season hinted at changes in Phulera, the third season fully embraced them. Although this season remains enjoyable and heartwarming, it lacks some of the signature elements that made Panchayat a beloved series, leaving audiences longing for the simpler Phulera they originally fell in love with.
In this season, the main conflict centres around Phulera’s inadequate roads and the MLA’s vendetta against Pradhan. The show introduces a full-fledged villain in the MLA, heightening tension and rallying viewers to support team Pradhan. The upcoming panchayat elections add to the chaos and conflict, with Bhusan (Durgesh Kumar) eyeing the position of the village head and teaming up with the MLA to outmanoeuvre Pradhan.
This season showcases notable transformations among key characters. Manju Devi evolves into a competent village head, supporting her daughter’s aspirations. Abhishek becomes more involved in village politics while secretly desiring to stay in Phulera. However, he takes a back seat as the focus shifts to a grieving Prahlad and the supportive community around him. Faisal Malik’s portrayal of Prahlad is a standout, with his once-jovial persona fading into memory. Vikas (Chandan Roy) and the Dubey family ensure Prahlad is well-fed and rested, despite his frequent solace in alcohol.
This season of Panchayat delves deeper into the budding romance between Rinki and Abhishek, portrayed through subtle gestures, wordplay, and awkwardness. Alongside the stellar performances of the main cast, Abha Sharma shines as Jagmohan’s grandmother, bringing a refreshing flavour to the screen with her spot-on accent and playful expressions. The series introduces a variety of colourful characters, including familiar faces from past seasons, without feeling overstuffed, maintaining its signature slow-paced storytelling across the eight episodes.
The production design of Panchayat’s setting is a standout feature, offering an authentic portrayal of rural India. Unlike the often romanticised and inaccurate depictions in Indian cinema and television, Panchayat captures the essence of village life with real households, local brands, and everyday items, surpassing its previous seasons. The attention to detail in depicting hinterland India is evident.
Despite serious themes, the makers maintain the show’s light-heartedness. The MLA is involved in a humorous murder plot of a dog, and two thugs let their prey escape due to excessive banter. A highlight is a scene where two hostile groups are about to clash, but a loud phone call with the ringtone “Sare Jahan Se Achcha” diffuses the tension.
The season yet again ends on a cliffhanger with people left to anticipate who shot Pradhan ji, it was even said, “Kya pata Pradhan Ji khud pe goli chalwa diye hon?” This could be true or may not be the truth but what we know is that the election fever is ready to soar in the next Panchayat season.
