PANCHAYAT (TV SHOW) REVIEW

PANCHAYAT, a web-series currently being streamed at Prime Video, can aptly be described as an honest attempt to create a modern-day reincarnation of the classic TV Show MALGUDI DAYS (based on the works of R.K.Narayan) and is reminiscent of Shyam Benegal’s critically acclaimed film WELCOME TO SAJJANPUR (starring Shreyas Talpade).

PANCHAYAT is the story of an engineering graduate Abhishek Tripathi, played by Jitendra Kumar (Humorously Yours, Kota Factory), who reluctantly joins as the Secretary of a panchayat office in a remote village of Uttar Pradesh on the insistence of his best friend (played by OTT sensation Biswapati Sarkar), who believed that his unique grassroots level experience would increase his chances to crack his IIM interview. Biswapati comically consoles him by saying that it would give him a chance to be the Mohan Bhargava of Phulera village.

The lead character’s frustrations and how he adjusts with the difficult village life is the common thread that joins the quotidian village problems like gender inequality, caste system, population control, electricity, superstitions etc., which are humorously manifested in each episode.

The show engrosses the viewer right from the start when our leading man reaches the village panchayat office only to learn that the village Pradhan(Pati) has lost the key to his office-cum-residence while he was attending to nature’s call. The Pradhan(Pati) casually justifies himself by explaining that “Shauchalaya to dui-dui hein humare ghar mein lekin khet mein ghoomne se saara system hi saaf ho jaata hai”. The Up-Pradhan taunts him in true-blue village dialect “Lagta hai phir tum chabhi wohin khet mein phira diye ho”.

The show consistently pulls off ingenuously funny lines, which evoke non-slapstick laugh-out-loud moments. For instance - the episode, which revolved around a typical village wedding and how the bridegroom’s notion of damaged self-respect sparked off an ensuing comedy of errors, was the epitome of this unintentional, subtle humor that PANCHAYAT is made of.

The makers of the show have captured the rustic and slow-paced life of a quintessential UP village with such incredible authenticity (hats off to the cinematographer) and all the characters feel so real - courtesy a thoroughly researched writing by someone who actually understands village life.

The lead actor’s performance seemed natural and effortless and was ably supported by the flawless acts of seasoned actors Raghuveer Yadav (in the role of Pradhan-Pati) and Neena Gupta (in the role of an inactive village Pradhan). But the pick of the bunch was Chandan Roy, who played the role of the good-hearted and adorable assistant to the Panchayat Secretary with rustic flamboyance.

Binge-watching the four hours run-time of PANCHAYAT went like an absolute breeze and had a calming effect on me. The show is the perfect anti-dote to the urban stress especially in these times. And contrary to the otherwise brilliant MIRZAPUR, where the lives and crimes of a rural-town were glorified to amp-up the entertainment value, and in stark contrast with the ridiculous characterization and over-the-top action of DABANGG, every episode of PANCHAYAT is a slice-of-life comedy-drama where the show’s relaxed pacing is analogous to a typical easy-going and slow-paced village-day. But it never gets boring. In fact, its what a TV Show should be: unadulterated entertainment with a sweet, non-preachy message.

I also liked the way the show ended when the Panchayat Secretary found his missing motivation (to crack the CAT) in Neena Gupta’s innocent efforts to learn and recite the National Anthem of India and when he finally climbs up the ‘Paani ki Tanki’ he despised, to find a sweet surprise waiting for him there, which could be the much-needed silver lining in his life in a hopeful second season. Highly recommended.

My Verdict: 8/10