Panchayat Season 4 Review: A Political Return Without the Emotional Depth of Earlier Seasons
With Season 4, TVF’s cherished series “Panchayat” returns, this time concentrating on Phulera village elections. For devoted viewers, that is wonderful news, but those who stayed for the show’s simplicity and emotional warmth might leave feeling let down. The plot frequently seems disjointed and unconvincing, despite a few exceptional performances. Panchayat Season 4
Key Takeaways:
- Season 4 revolves around Phulera’s crucial village election.
- Manju Devi has remarkable character development and authority.
- A few moments lack humour and seem superfluous.
Following a tragic shooting incident related to an election that left the Pradhan (village leader) injured, the story continues where Season 3 left off. Election drama dominates the majority of the episodes in the most recent season, which is solely focused on the political battle between Team Manju Devi and Team Kranti Devi.
The emotional nuance and relatability that formerly characterised the programme, however, were conspicuously lacking in spite of the political strain. As a devoted fan of “Panchayat”, this change is depressing. Panchayat Season 4
Abhishek is depressed at the start of the season, fearing that a police case under IPC Section 323 may have an impact on his future. The tone is odd from the beginning when his relative is sent back from Phulera without warning.
Panchayat Season 4 However, there are some highlights in the season. The way Neena Gupta plays Manju Devi is very noteworthy. Her character’s journey from a symbolic village leader to someone who takes actual charge, confronts her husband’s errors, and makes choices is one of the season’s few interesting storylines.
However, Pradhan, the campaign of Raghubir Yadav, appears to be entirely focused on winning the election, regardless of the cost. He used to be presented as a complex character, but now he comes across as desperate and flat.
The character arc of Abhishek is particularly disappointing. Distracted, passive, and uninvested, he looks to be the kind of relationship no one deserves. He is also emotionally inaccessible in his personal life, hesitant in his endeavours, and generally disengaged. You are not alone, Rinki (Sanvikaa)!
Abhishek hardly does anything professionally either. He no longer participates in village elections as a neutral party, and he disregards his responsibilities outside of politics. A lot of the situations seem meaningless, such as why Abhishek, Vikas, Prahlad, and the Pradhan would all go get an electrician together, especially at such a delicate political moment. Panchayat Season 4
The humour mostly fails, though there are a few sporadic giggles.
In Episode 5, Ram Gopal Bajaj plays Manju Devi’s father, who strangely spends more time on screen with the village secretary than with his own daughter. It’s unclear what this subplot is trying to accomplish.
Then, in the centre of the hamlet, Bhushan, also known as Banarakas, is shown cooking bottle gourd in a pressure cooker. This strange image was meant to be a part of Kranti Devi’s campaign, but it falls flat. The bewilderment is not much increased by the cooker’s explosion or the ensuing commotion.
The Pradhan’s abrupt outburst, which included screaming, hurling objects, and losing control, is another startling instance. Considering that he isn’t depicted as inebriated or emotionally overwhelmed, it seems arbitrary and forced. It just doesn’t fit the tone of the show.
While some characters struggle, Prahlad, played by Faisal Malik, keeps up his performance with little effort. His gentle sorrow over his son’s passing and his devotion to his friends are heartwarming. Panchayat Season 4
In addition to Manju Devi, Ashok Pathak’s character Binod is noteworthy. This season, he sets the standard higher, whether it’s standing up for himself, having dinner with the Pradhan family, or displaying vulnerability amid the election results. Together with Bull Kumar’s Madhav, his portrayal infuses usually lifeless situations with vitality.
“Panchayat Season 4” tries to tap into the magic of its earlier seasons but falters due to flimsy character development and half-baked storylines. Although Manju Devi’s journey is undoubtedly a highlight, the story as a whole feels bloated rather than novel.
Currently available for viewing on Amazon Prime Video is the series.