Panchayat 4: The Story So Far

There can be many reasons to admire the seasons of ‘Panchayat’ but the primary still remains the same- its simplicity.

Have you ever waited for a series or movie that you’re counting the days for its release? For someone who is a fan of Marvel or DC, the answer isn’t difficult. But let’s limit the answer to the Indian context.

These days, it’s difficult to find something that delights as well as instructs you unusually. The lack of ideas, the courage to experiment and the commercialisation are some of the factors due to which the iconic piece has become a rarity in contemporary times. Now, it’s high time to realise that a profit-driven industry can’t produce a masterpiece every time. The Bollywood and Tollywood have picked up a simple formula to multiply their money against their expenditure. Give the audience an abundance of action with obscenity. Even without a solid plot, the movie will succeed, or at least fetch the maximum. Art is indeed imitation coupled with imagination, but the imagination or the contemporary relevance part is reducing with each passing decade.

Panchayat stands apart from this herd mentality or a formula-based entity. This show is miles away from the dazzle of the city and the widespread glamour, the unrealistic action and obscenity. That’s why it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it is one of the few most-loved shows. It’s a testimony to the fact that any show can still succeed even if it doesn’t have these elements. You need to be genuine, original and defamiliarised (in Shklovsky’s words) in your approach. Let’s delve into more details about this web series, specifically, season 4.

Title: Panchayat

Writer: Chandhan Kumar (in the cast of upsachiv in the show)

Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra, Akshat Vijaywargiya

Episodes: 8 with a runtime of 35-40 minutes

Shoot Location: Mahodiya village in MP

OTT: Amazon Prime aired on June 24

The last season aired a year ago, ended on a chaotic note with Sachiv Ji losing his calm and thrashing Bhushan and Vidhayak’s gang. The two questions which loomed large from this season were, pradhan ji par goli kisne chalwayi (who gave the contract to shoot pradhan ji), and the fate of Sachiv ji after getting jailed amidst his pursuit for the MBA. The reason I could guess for cliffhanging the former is that the directors wanted to initiate the discussion among the audience and give the reason for audience to come back, similar to Rajamouli’s Bahubali, where the question was Kattappa ne Babhubali ko kyo mara (why Kattappa killed Bahubali). The goli mystery couldn’t garner much interest for two reasons. The show isn’t as intense as Bahubali, and the fact that Pradhan is still alive. However, both questions weren’t answered even in season 4 and hence, reflect the slow pace of progress of the season.

While watching season 4, which is largely election-driven, I felt that there were loads of speeches on several occasions in front of a group of villagers, but not much action. Even the social concerns are missing. There wasn’t any significant event to heighten the interest of the audience. It does make you laugh at several moments, but the quotes and the dialogue that created the impact in the previous seasons were missing. Moreover, watching the characters wrapped in woollen clothes while you’re sitting in a banyan with the sweat dripping from your forehead felt unreal. I understand that the shooting had been completed in winter; they should have waited for that season to release it. The chemistry between Sachiv ji and Rinki is one of the reasons (recall season 1 end) that draws viewers toward the TV series. Contrary to my expectations, not much attention was given to dramatise their relationship.

Despite these loopholes, I really enjoyed watching the much-awaited season 4 of Panchayat. Though I completed it in three instalments, unlike the earlier seasons, which I binge-watched, I feel that the writer and the director have tried to weave the play judiciously to keep enough for season 5, which I feel would be a concluding season. Yes! There is going to be a season by as stated by the writer Chandan. I suggest that readers definitely watch this season and the series if they haven’t previously. Such TV series aren’t made every day. I must say, season 4 has also not lost its simplicity. Ending on a funnier note, if I have to give a subtitle to this season, I would say, “The Rise of Banrakas and Gang.”

Let me know the answer to the questions which I posed in the beginning in the comment box. Also, eager to hear your opinion if you’ve already watched this season.

©Shashank