- Release Date: 28/05/2024
- Cast: Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Chandan Roy, Faisal Malik, Neena Gupta, Durgesh Kumar, Sanvikaa
- Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra
“Masterfully blending humour, drama, and poignant moments, Panchayat Season 3 creates an immersive and emotionally resonant experience”
Pradhan Ji, Sachiv Ji, Banrakas, and Vidhayak Ji are back for a lot more of what we loved in the first two seasons of “Panchayat,” and it is even more endearing and heartwarming this time around. The story begins from where the second season left off. Sachiv Ji has been transferred at the orders of Vidhayak Ji, who was insulted by the entire village of Phulera after he verbally abused Sachiv Ji.
Prahlad, after the loss of his martyred son Rahul, is trying his best to cope with his current situation even though he finds himself at a loss when trying to find reasons to live on. Pradhan Ji, Prahlad, and Vikas are trying their best to prevent the new Sachiv from joining the Panchayat as it would effectively put an end to Sachiv Ji’s chances of coming back to Phulera as a Sachiv. Sachiv Ji, who is back in the big city and contemplating resigning from his job, is finding it hard to be away from the village that he has come to love with all his heart. Rinki, who is evidently attracted to Sachiv Ji, is keeping him posted about the happenings in the village and that includes the Panchayat’s efforts to reverse his transfer.
It is at this juncture that Vidhayak Ji loses an important court battle and is convicted of having murdered and consumed a dog. This allows Pradhan Ji and the village of Phulera to overturn the transfer of Sachiv Ji, who quickly makes his way back to the village for another season of rip-roaring adventure characterised by life’s love, lessons, comedy, drama, and an unmissable romantic undertone that is more pronounced in this season than ever before in the series.
The Most Sentimental That I Have Gotten in a Series in A Long Long Time:
Unlike the first two seasons of the series where the emphasis was on comedy, the focus in the third season shifts to human drama, coping with loss, loving our near and dear ones, and towards the end of the series, village politics. The first three episodes are all about how much we are loved by our parents and how little we can do for them even if we dedicate our entire lives to them. This feeling is beautifully brought out through a portion of the series involving a family in the village and its senior member trying to get a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for his son and daughter-in-law. The ensuing drama completely enveloped me with emotions and sentiments that I hadn’t experienced in a series in a long, long time. How this portion of the story develops from having comedic undertones into something potently sentimental and emotional was absolutely heartwarming.
The character of Prahlad, who has been dealing with the loss of his son and finding himself at a loss for how to cope with it, shares a moment with the elder towards the end of the third episode, underscored by the hauntingly beautiful track, “Aasman Rootha.” What is said between the two in this scene and how the scene proceeds and culminates left me teary-eyed. The poignance of the dialogue related to loss and learning to cope with it, as well as valuing all that we have, left me speechless. It is that beautiful. I was further floored by what the elder had to say about her desperation to get the house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, as it made just as much sense as the arguments laid down by Prahlad. By the end of the series, both characters find their way through the overwhelming clouds of confusion and indecision and find necessary comfort in each other’s company. For these three episodes alone, I wouldn’t mind paying to watch this series over and over again. We need more of such true emotions and sentiments on the screen.
In this little portion, the role played by the elder’s son and how he reacts to the entire predicament as the story unfolds will most definitely go unnoticed by many, but to me, it was one of the most refreshing and enamouring portrayals of love and appreciation of one’s presence and help documented in a series. TVF knows India and its people like no one else.
Intriguing Depiction of Political Rivalry and Village Politics:
As the story progresses, the proceedings shift to the souring rivalry between Pradhan Ji and Bhushan, further catalyzed by the addition of Vidhayak Ji, who wants his revenge on Pradhan Ji and anyone else who stands against him. The politics and plotting brewing between these characters and their impact on the village of Phulera are so intriguingly brought out through the next five episodes that I couldn’t help but be glued to all that was unfolding. This portion is a healthy mix of seriousness, genuine stakes, rip-roaring comedy, intelligent dialogue, and, in the end, an exceptionally satisfying climax.
As this portion unfolds, we see the different characters develop and change in various ways. The most pronounced of these changes occurs in the character of Prahlad, who gradually inches out of his misery. In one poignant scene, he laughs his heart out in the company of his favourite people. This happens to be another scene that I have been watching on loop. Just how this moment is built up and how every character in this scene reacts to Prahlad laughing was enough to fill my heart with a kind of warmth, with shades of melancholia that I haven’t experienced in a while.
Vidhayak Ji has a much more important and pronounced role this time around, and his character is the source of the most comedic moments. He is so serious about everything, and the things that happen to him are so bizarre that I couldn’t help but roll on the floor laughing. He considers himself untouchable and the village folks as people who are far below him. There comes a time in the series when he loses all his clout, and the villagers come down to exchanging blows with him. This was one of the most satisfying portions to watch in the series, in addition to the slap that Sachiv Ji lands on Bhushan, who had it coming for at least three seasons now.
Exceptional Performances from the Ensemble Cast:
I could write paragraph after paragraph about the greatness in the performances of the ensemble cast, but that would be boring and counterproductive to the review. Hence, I will summarize the greatness characterising the performances of the series in one paragraph by saying this: I cannot think of anyone else playing any of characters of the series other than the ones who are playing in the series. While the writing and dialogues of the series are exceptionally realistic, quirky, and engaging, they are delivered with a kind of magic by the ensemble cast that elevates it to the moon. The performances are what make this series what it is. While the story and the writing are fantastic, none of the qualities of the series would have made their way to our hearts had it not been for the exceptionally brilliant, poignant, and heartwarming performances from the ensemble cast.
Be it the comedic moments, the drama, or even the emotional bits, the actors share such magical chemistry with one another that it becomes impossible not to take them for all that they are shown doing. The emotions and the drama of the series flow through the respective performances, making their way straight to our hearts, allowing us to feel the entire range of emotions and sentiments that this series sets out to capture and depict. There is such a sense of “being there and seen it before” energy and realism to the characters that they become even more endearing. Even the negative characters are sweet and lovable. This is a rare achievement for the performances in a series, and Deepak Kumar Mishra is able to extract the very best out of his ensemble cast.
Final Words:
The third season of “Panchayat” transcends the bounds of conventional comedy, diving deep into the realms of human emotions, relationships, loss and the complexities of village life. The seemingly ignorable issues of a big town are matters having far-reaching consequences in a village. The best example of this in the series is the blossoming romance between Sachiv Ji and Rinki. The two are well aware of each other’s feelings but the expression is proving to be increasingly difficult for both because of the delicate dynamics of relationship and culture in the village.
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The series ends on a cliffhanger, ensuring that the audience is excited about the next instalment. The blend of humour, drama, and poignant moments creates a truly immersive experience that appeals to the human in each and every one of us. This season not only entertains but also leaves a lasting impact, reminding us of the beauty and depth of human connections and how they are the only things that matter in this world. “Panchayat” is a testament to the power of storytelling, and it’s a series that will stay with you long after the final episode.
Rating: 4/5 (4 out of 5 Stars)
The views expressed in this article are that of the reviewer and do not reflect EastMojo’s position.
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