The strength of Panchayat lies in its simplistic and relatable depiction of rural life. The creators, understanding this well, avoid gimmicks while skillfully adding social commentary. Staying true to its original tone, they push boundaries in the third season. This eight-part season delves into bigger themes, allowing character arcs to develop further and creating more dramatic moments.
The second season ended dramatically with the death of Rahul, an army man and son of Phulera Panchayat’s deputy chief Prahlad (Faisal Malik). The climax saw Panchayat head Manju Devi (Neena Gupta) stopping the local MLA (Pankaj Jha) from exploiting the tragedy for political gain. Another cliffhanger was the transfer of Panchayat secretary Abhishek Tripathy (Jitendra Kumar).
Season 3 opens with Prahlad grieving his son’s loss. Manju Devi is now more involved in Panchayat affairs, confidently navigating political challenges. Abhishek is happy to remain in Phulera after his transfer is stalled. While the setting remains familiar, the narrative embraces more drama and subplots.
Written by Chandan Kumar, Panchayat captures the essence of remote village life. This season reveals more about the characters’ desires and dreams without losing its breezy charm. The ensemble cast shines, with supporting characters like Bhusan (Durgesh Kumar) gaining prominence alongside Vinod and Madhav.
A standout this season is the subtle transformation of characters. Manju Devi, once content behind the scenes, now demonstrates her political instincts. She supports her daughter Rinki (Sanvikaa) in pursuing a degree and a job. The writing’s triumph lies in its directness without preachiness, showing natural progression in characters.
The main conflict centers on Phulera’s lack of proper roads and the MLA’s vendetta against Pradhan (Raghubir Yadav). Panchayat maintains its refreshing charm by avoiding excessive violence and expletives. Tension rises authentically, with realistic, unchoreographed confrontations.
Panchayat continues to balance understated charm and high drama, capitalizing on familiar village peculiarities and challenges while casting its net wider this season.
Panchayat Season 3
- Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra
- Cast: Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Sanvikaa, Chandan Roy, Faisal Malik, Durgesh Kumar, Sunita Rajwar, Pankaj Jha
- Rating: 4 Stars
