INDIA: The comedy-drama follows Abhishek, an engineering graduate jammed as secretary of the panchayat office in a rural village in Uttar Pradesh due to a scarcity of better job opportunities. Frustrated by the villagers’ antics, Abhishek begins to prepare for the CAT exam as an escapade. Since his long journey develops a bond with the villagers, he begins to regard them as family. Will Abhishek consider leaving the village, seeing as his deep emotional bond with the villagers, or will his journey continue on the hilarious track?
Ensemble Cast:
Jitendra Kumar as Abhishek Tripathi, a. k. a Sachiv Ji, Raghubir Yadav as Brij Bhushan Dubey, a.k.a. Pradhan Ji, Neena Gupta as Manju Devi, Biswapati Sarkar as Prateek, Chandan Roy as Vikas, Faisal Malik as Prahlad Pandey, and Sanvikaa as Rinky, daughter of Pradhan.
Another feel-good story from the TVF’s receptacle
When something comes from the TVF lineup, you know it’ll be worth your time to watch. Whether it’s depicting struggling IIT students or narrating middle-class stories, it all evokes strong emotions, regardless of our age. The rawness and grounded touch are beautifully perpetuated without sanctimonious writings, simply through meaningful anecdotes. There are no sci-fi thrills, superheroes, or a gloomy future, merely simple stories! All it takes is a simple story to captivate viewers’ hearts, and by all accounts, TVF comes as a rising sensation in the OTT market.
Season 2 of Panchayat is yet another gem in TVF’s repertoire. All of the cast members give outstanding performances. There isn’t a single instance where we believe one performer is overshadowing another. All of them shine brilliantly in Phulera’s charming atmosphere. Whether it’s Jitendra’s Sachiv Ji or Raghubir Yadav’s Pradhan Ji, every character shines brightly. Jitendra’s character is degraded and demeaned at several stages by a devious Vidhayak. We can perceive how effectively Jitendra has done his job in that context, and we can sense his pain as a viewer.
Abhishek and Rinky’s chemistry feels authentic, unlike modern-day love troops. Where romance is merely a gimmick of privileged metropolitan life that leads to hookups and whatnot. The blossoming love between the two is depicted in the most simplistic manner conceivable, thanks to Jitendra and Sanvikaa. Their remarkable performances added a heartfelt dimension to the on-screen romance.
The final episode, titled Parivar, is an empathic roller coaster. Faisal Malik as Prahlad steals the show in this chapter with his perfect facial expressions and character notions that are all spot on. The season finale not only comes as an emotional shocker but also piques our interest in the character’s forthcoming.
The ambiance of the village develops in a humorous yet fascinating way. Everything feels like it belongs to us, whether it’s the water tank location, Sachivji’s house, or Abhishek and the gang’s hangout spot. We eventually become a part of such an environment.
Aside from the cast’s brilliant performances, Deepak Kumar Mishra and Chandan Kumar are the kings of filmmaking excellence. Deepak’s directing vision is instrumental in bringing the magnificent world of Phulera to the big screen. Chandan’s writing is the only element that brought the characters to life in the beautiful symphony. Anurag Saikia’s music is ideal for each tale, merging emotional and comedic passages.
The only thing that separates us from our viewing perspective is the episode duration, which is a little short. The plot begins in such an intriguing fashion in each episode that we want it to go on for a little longer rather than just a few minutes.
Verdict:
Panchayat season 2 is a pure reflection of a simple commune storyline devoid of any didactic ethos that definitely serves as a must-watch with friends and especially with family.
Transcontinental Times rating: 4.5/5
Also Read: Horizon Zero Dawn: Aloy is All Set for Her Live Action Debut
