Panchayat Season 4 Review: The Charm of Phulera Fades Amidst Overcooked Drama
The highly anticipated new season of “Panchayat” sees the beloved rural setting of Phulera embroiled in an electoral battle, symbolized by the “lauki” and “pressure cooker” poll symbols. While these elements hint at the series’ characteristic rural quirks, the overall plot unfortunately feels “overcooked.”
Picking up from the previous season’s clashes, the turf war between incumbent Pradhan Manju Devi and her opponent Kranti Devi intensifies. The once idyllic life in Phulera gives way to heightened tensions and one-upmanship among their supporters. This escalation, while mirroring real-life rural politics, marks a significant departure from the heartwarming simplicity that defined earlier seasons.
The series, which began as a charming portrayal of rural life centered on MBA-aspirant Sachivji (Jitendra Kumar) navigating his role under Pradhanji (Raghubir Yadav), has grown in ambition. Episodes are longer, conflicts are grander, and the character roster has expanded. However, this expansion comes at the cost of its core characters. The arcs of Sachivji, Pradhanji, Vikas (Chandan Roy), and Prahlad (Faisal Malik) feel underdeveloped. Even the female characters, despite earlier hints of empowerment, seem to regress, with Manju Devi, Rinki, and Kranti Devi appearing as paler versions of their former selves.
The electoral showdown, despite its intensity, lacks the dramatic impact of previous season’s simpler, yet more resonant, conflicts, such as the infamous slipper exchange or Rinki’s harassment. Crucially, the gentle romantic moments between Rinki and Sachivji are largely absent or feel like mere afterthoughts, failing to contribute meaningfully to the narrative.
While a natural evolution for a series, “Panchayat’s” shift in tone towards heightened drama feels tedious. The dramatic beats often fail to translate into a truly riveting experience. The authentic, relatable world of Phulera, once its greatest strength, appears disrupted, losing some of its inherent charm and gentle humor in the process. This season struggles to maintain the nuanced writing and endearing characters that initially captivated audiences.
