Rating : 4.2/5
Genre : Drama
Year : 2020
Episodes : 8
Running time : 30 minutes (per episode)
Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime
Director : Deepak Kumar Mishra
Cast : Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghuvir Yadav, Chandan Roy, Faisal Malik
Kid rating : G
I’ve been waiting for Panchayat to release ever since I saw the trailer featuring this great cast, and I’m glad to say it was not for nothing. Panchayat is a pleasant, wholesome show and makes for an entertaining family watch.
Jitendra Kumar (remember him from Shubh Managal Zyada Saavdhan?) is Abhishek Tripathi, a fresh grad who, unlike his peers, has managed to secure an undesirable job – that of Panchayat Sachiv (secretary) in Phulera village. The remuneration is low, compared to that of his friend’s and Abhishek must leave his city environs for rural ones. Out of better prospects, Abhishek makes the trek to the hinterland, and thence begins the adventure.
The first episode begins with Abhishek’s arrival in Phulera, and his introduction to the local cast of characters. There is the Pradhan Manju Devi (Gupta), her husband Brij Bhushan Dubey (Yadav) who acts as Pradhan in her place, Prahlad Pandey (Malik) – the vice-Pradhan, and Vikas (Roy), the secretary’s office-sahayak or assistant. Each subsequent episode deals with its own little problem – sometimes it is a bhutiya ped, and others it is the theft of a monitor.
The problems are never too serious, and are generally resolved in the episode. City-bred Abhishek sees the small-scale corruption but doesn’t protest too much, his focus being on finding a better job and hotfooting it out of village life. I was a little disappointed at Abhishek’s chalta-hai attitude, but I suspect that that attitude might change in future seasons.
What I like about this series is its simple, clean wholesomeness. There are problems, yes, but they are generally resolved in a feel-good, humorous fashion. There is a smattering of women’ issues/empowerment throughout and the tone is forward-thinking and earnest. The characters are well fleshed out – flaws and all, and it will be interesting to see Abhishek’s personal growth from season to season.
I breezed through Panchayat in one day – and ’twas a pleasant Saturday. Panchayat is a must-watch!
