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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Panchayat' Season 4 review: Election season delivers mixed results
In its four seasons, Panchayat has evolved considerably. It has possibly taken its biggest leap yet towards shedding its image as slice-of-life comedy. Panchayat's Season 4 was highly anticipated with a political showdown expected between Phulera's current chief (Pradhan) Manju Devi (Neena Gupta), and her rival Kranti (Sunita Rajwar). While the show this season moves along the contours of the electoral battle, its insistence on hanging on to its core identity as casual comfort watch delivers a mixed result. Picking up days after where Season 3 left off, the show opens with Brij Bhushan (Raghubir Yadav) recovering from the attempt on his life, and Abhishek (Jitendra Kumar) looking at legal ramifications of starting a brawl with Bhushan (Durgesh Kumar). He continues to await the results of his CAT exam, but that takes a backseat as the show sets itself up for the upcoming Panchayat elections. Panchayat Season 4 (Hindi) Directors: Deepak Kumar Mishra, Akshat Vijaywargiya Cast: Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Chandan Roy, Faisal Malik, Sanvikaa Pooja Singh, Durgesh Kumar, and others Episodes: 8 Runtime: 35-40 minutes Storyline: Phulera witnesses an exciting election season as Manju Devi and Kranti Devi go toe-to-toe Panchayat has made it a habit to end its seasons on a cliffhanger, presenting a rough draft of the next season for its viewers. With the characters more lived in and the daily oddities of Phulera established, the audience has naturally become better at predicting these scenarios and their outcomes. The writers, in this regard, struggle to race ahead of expectations and predictions. With Phulera in the throes of local election season, the plot tries to cover all possible bases, with all levels of political subterfuge at play. So, while we are following the ramifications of the former MLA (Pankaj Jha) being sidelined by his own party, the show cuts to give a glimpse of Manju Devi's grand plan of hoarding up all the free potatoes being distributed by Bhushan. In the eight episodes the show also doubles as a Whodunnit, as it unravels the mystery of Brij Bhushan's shooter. The show finds itself unfolding in this mixed affectation of seemingly intense political battle interspersed with the comedy of the banal. It tends to switches between but often fails to carry the weight to ensure a seamless transition. Another glaring issue that makes itself noticeable is Panchayat's insistence on remaining a Boy's Club. Manju Devi is not made part of nearly enough serious political business, and while she becomes the face of the electoral campaign, she only shadows her husband in the campaign. Neena Gupta, though underutilised, makes the most of her screentime. Panchayat began with the formula of a slow-moving slice-of-life comedy where the best scenes often ended up being the uncomfortably long ones, the ones that stretched a gimmick just a little too far and made it work. But now that the show has sought to reinvent itself, its new themes do not always gel with its traditional formulae. A recurring line that makes its way in the latter half of this season re-iterates the dirty business of politics. Brij Bhushan describes the whole affair as one filled with lies, tricks and deceit, but the gravity of the sentiment and the consequences are rushed off for a lighter moment that breaks an otherwise impactful momentum. However, this season may be better understood if it is watched as a filler one to set the show up for a fifth season. It may excite viewers for the show's future, but it leaves question marks over its present. All episodes of Panchayat are streaming on Prime Video
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Panchayat Season 4 Review: Still simple, still sincere — The fourth season delivers more of the same
Story: Election fever grips Phulera as both Manju Devi and Kranti Devi pull out all the stops to win over voters. Meanwhile, Abhishek Tripathi is on edge—worried and anxious about the counter FIR filed against him, fearing it could derail his business school admission. Review: While 'Panchayat' still carries its signature charm and simplicity, it's clear the new season treads familiar ground. The show continues its format of building entire episodes around small incidents, often without contributing to a larger narrative arc. There's little in terms of story progression, but the appeal lies in the mood it creates and the quirks of Phulera's residents. Creative fatigue shows, especially in the fifth episode featuring Manju Devi's father—a subplot that adds absolutely nothing to the story. Yet, the show remains watchable, thanks to its rooted setting and the comfort it offers. Our emotional investment in the characters keeps us going even when not much actually happens. This season opens with Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar) under pressure after Bhushan (Durgesh Kumar) files an FIR against him for slapping him. He's visibly anxious that the case could affect his CAT results and ruin his chances at business school. His attempt to apologize doesn't go as planned, and even when accepted, it comes with strings attached. Meanwhile, the ex-MLA, Chandrakishore Singh (Pankaj Jha), scrambles to uncover the shooter who targeted Pradhan Ji (Raghubir Yadav), as he too is implicated. Election fever peaks in Phulera, with Manju Devi (Neena Gupta) and Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar) using every trick in the book—from cleaning toilets to distributing free tomatoes—to woo voters. Pradhan Ji's group is dealt a blow when Vikas's (Chandan Roy) property purchase triggers a raid. Adding to the churn, the local MP (Swanand Kirkire) offers Prahlad (Faisal Malik) a ticket after Chandu's removal from the party. Season four centers on the rivalry between the factions of Pradhan Ji and Bhushan. Tensions rise with the approaching elections. Abhishek is assaulted by Chandu's men; Bhushan informs on Vikas, leading to the raid. In a bid to shift loyalties, Pradhan Ji invites Binod for dinner. The season plays out like a series of loosely linked village episodes rather than a tightly woven plot. While this may seem like a flaw, it also allows the show to retain its slice-of-life appeal. The beauty of the show lies in the texture and rhythm of village life it captures, and the show remains grounded in its depiction of a small UP town village. Its biggest strength continues to be its simplicity. Performances remain consistently strong. Jitendra Kumar as Abhishek Tripathi is still chasing his future, battling anxiety about his CAT test results. His slow-burn connection with Rinki (played by Sanvikaa) stays in sync with the laid-back pace of the village. Vikas and Prahlad remain loyal to Pradhan Ji, determined to ensure Manju Devi's win. On the other side, Bhushan, Binod, and Madhav are equally focused on discrediting Pradhan Ji and pushing Kranti Devi forward. The character dynamics haven't changed much, but they continue to feel familiar and engaging. The season ends on an open note, making it unclear whether another one is planned. It could end here, or continue. Despite relying on the same patterns, 'Panchayat' remains a comfort watch. It captures a world where people are driven by genuine concerns—whether it's Bhushan offering to arrange an electrician for the faulty transformer or Abhishek running to get water after Bhushan is injured. The show doesn't aim for grand twists or emotional highs. It's gentle, lived-in, and this season is no different—just don't expect major plot developments.
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Panchayat Season 5 In The Works? Sanvikaa AKA Rinki Shares Shooting And Release Timeline
Last Updated: Sanvikaa confirms Panchayat Season 5 is in development. Shooting may begin later this year, with a likely release in mid-2025. Here's what to expect. Fans of Panchayat were in for a delightful surprise when Season 4 of the much-loved rural dramedy arrived on Prime Video ahead of schedule. Originally slated for a July 2 release, the new season dropped on June 24, sending the internet into a celebratory frenzy. As expected, the trailer's promise of clever humor, grounded storytelling, and deeper emotional threads was fulfilled in full measure. This season picks up the simmering political tension in Phulera, with Manju Devi (played by Neena Gupta) locking horns with Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar), and the budding romance between Rinki (Sanvikaa) and Sachiv Ji (Jitendra Kumar) gaining emotional traction. While familiar faces like Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, and Pankaj Jha return to fill Phulera with their warmth and quirks, it's the evolving character arcs that elevate this chapter. 'The process for Panchayat Season 5 has begun," she confirmed. 'Hopefully, maybe by mid-next year or sometime next year, it will be released. And we are likely to begin the shoot for Season 5 maybe at the end of this year or next year. The writing has already started. So once the writing is done, we will start shooting." With stakes higher than ever in Phulera, viewers can expect a deeper dive into grassroots politics, interpersonal complexities, and more of the show's signature slice-of-life charm. Season 4 sets the tone for a larger narrative shift, teasing greater drama, power plays, and emotional reckonings. Produced by The Viral Fever (TVF), Panchayat continues to be helmed by writer Chandan Kumar and director Deepak Kumar Mishra, with creative direction by Akshat Vijaywargiya. As always, it remains rooted in authenticity while subtly expanding its canvas—and fan base—with each season. With Season 4 now streaming and Season 5 already underway, it's safe to say: Phulera is far from done telling its story. First Published:
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Panchayat S4: Next Pradhan, Sachiv ji & Rinki's Romance, And Questions Ahead
Last Updated: Panchayat Season 4 is now streaming on Prime Video. Panchayat Season 4 is now streaming on Prime Video, bringing viewers back to the village of Phulera, where politics, humour, and romance once again take center stage. However, this season has received mixed reviews—some praised it for preserving the show's signature charm, others felt that the emotional depth and warm relationships were somewhat sidelined. Here's a look at what we can expect in the next season. 1/8 Kranti Devi wins the election, and her name replaces Manju Devi's outside the Panchayat office, marking a new political order in Phulera. The defeat doesn't sit well with Pradhan Ji and he ruins the sweets he had ordered to celebrate the wife's victory. (Image: X) Next Photogallery
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
9 new movies and OTT shows to watch this week
Panchayat Season 4 - Amazon Prime Video This fan favourite show is out on Amazon prime Video as Manju Devi and Kranti Devi go head-to-head in the panchayat elections. The show marks the return of Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Sanvikaa, and Chandan Roy, among others. Squid Game Season 3 - Netflix The third and final season of Netflix's popular survival thriller will continue the story of Gi-hun (Lee Jung Jae) as it premieres this week. Mistry - JioHotstar The official adaptation of the popular American series Monk, revolves around Armaan Mistry, a brilliant ex-cop, who uses his crime-solving abilities to unravel complex cases. The mystery comedy series features Ram Kapoor, Mona Singh, and Shikha Talsania in pivotal roles. The Gilded Age Season 3 - JioHotstar This historical drama, set in the Gilded Age, follows a young girl, who moves to New York after her father's death. The critically-acclaimed series is headlined by Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Cynthia Nixon, and Christine Baranski. The Bear Season 4 - JioHotstar The next chapter of The Bear continues the story of Carmy Berzatto (starring Jeremy Allen White), an award-winning chef, who returns to Chicago and takes over his brother's sandwich shop after his untimely demise. Viraatapalem: PC Meena Reporting - ZEE5 This supernatural mystery thriller that follows Meena (played by Abhignya Vuthaluru), a newly transferred police officer. She refuses to accept that the village of Viraatapalem is cursed, and embarks on a mission to solve the mystery behind the deaths of young brides on their wedding day. Emotional Amitabh Bachchan shares photo of sea of fans outside Jalsa: 'A huge debt'
