Panchayat Season 4 Review: When Politics Overrides Simplicity
Panchayat Season 4 marks a noticeable shift for the much-loved show, once defined by its simplicity, warmth, and subtle humour. This time, Phulera feels more like an intense election battlefield than the endearing village it once was. With each episode edging further into election dynamics and political tension, the show’s soul seems somewhat lost in translation.
Table of Contents
- What Happened in Phulera
- Fractured Relationships and Lost Depth
- Government’s Reaction? Not So Much
- Key Characters Underused
- Why the Charm Fades
- Final Thoughts
What Happened in Phulera
The latest installment begins where Season 3 left off — simmering tensions and uncertain power equations as panchayat elections are on the horizon. The village, once a peaceful setting for quirky events and charming encounters, becomes the stage for a full-fledged political rivalry between Manju Devi (played by Neena Gupta) and Kranti Devi (played by Sunita Rajwar).
The visual cues say it all: the humble lauki (bottle gourd) becomes Manju Devi’s election symbol, while Kranti Devi wields a pressure cooker. While those symbols might make you smile, the narrative doesn’t linger on their humour. The irony is clear — what should’ve been playful local politics takes a heavier tone.
Fractured Relationships and Lost Depth
The emotional core of the show — its characters — feel scattered this season. Mainstays like Sachivji (Jitendra Kumar), Pradhanji (Raghubir Yadav), Prahlad (Faisal Malik), and Vikas (Chandan Roy) don’t get the kind of narrative attention they previously enjoyed.
Manju Devi, once slowly stepping into her role as a decision-maker, slips back into the sidelines, with her husband once again influencing most major decisions. Meanwhile, Kranti Devi, who earlier brought vibrant chaos, appears surprisingly restrained.
Even the budding emotional storyline between Rinki and Sachivji, hinted at in previous seasons, feels like a loose thread. Their moments together in Season 4 feel less like organic scenes and more like structured fillers.
Government’s Reaction? Not So Much
If you’re expecting a reflection of state involvement in local elections — which are known to be chaotic across India — you won’t find much here. The administrators outside of Phulera are absent, with no strong narrative showing how district or block-level officials react to the tensions brewing ahead of the panchayat elections. It’s all internal — the fight remains Phulera’s burden alone.
Key Characters Underused
The standout joy of Panchayat’s earlier seasons was in its ensemble — each person in the village felt real. There was something deeply authentic about Vikas’ wide-eyed innocence, Prahlad’s quiet strength, and Sachivji’s reluctant adaptability. But this time, their arcs are sidelined.
- Vikas is reduced to brief comic relief moments.
- Prahlad’s grief, hinted at earlier, is barely explored.
- Rinki’s aspirations seem paused again.
The show’s creators had shown commitment to evolving rural narratives — but the very characters driving them now feel static. Fleeting scenes and minimal evolution mean missed emotional payoffs.
Why the Charm Fades
What made Panchayat click was its ability to give space to rural life — unfiltered and unsensational. It didn’t scream for attention. It whispered. This time though, the whispers are drowned out by arguments, fake campaign drama, and strategic alignments between rival factions.
There’s one scene where slippers become a flashpoint — silly yet intense — a nod to the earlier seasons. But it passes quickly. And then it’s back to long election planning sessions that drag on. The absence of smaller conflicts and humorous distractions is felt throughout.
“The world of Phulera, as we knew it, has been disrupted — and not in a good way,” reflects the review, a line that captures the essence of viewers’ disappointment.
Scenes featuring Rinki and Sachivji are rare and awkward. There’s a moment, late in the season, where they’re alone, and you think something’s about to develop. But before that thought completes, it ends. Perhaps intentionally, perhaps not — but it feels incomplete.
Final Thoughts
Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra and written by Chandan Kumar, Panchayat Season 4 sets its ambitions high — longer runtime, more plotlines, higher stakes. But it misses what made the show special. Bigger doesn’t always mean better.
Still, performances remain competent. Jitendra Kumar stays convincing as Sachivji. Neena Gupta performs well, even if her impact has diminished. And Raghubir Yadav holds his space easily.
If the goal was to highlight the undercurrent of local politics in rural India, it partly succeeds. But in doing so, it sacrifices the humour and calm that made it relatable whether you lived in a village or never stepped in one. There’s something to be said for ambition — but it could come at the cost of authenticity.
Verdict: 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Cast: Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Sanvikaa, Durgesh Kumar, Sunita Rajwar, Pankaj Jha
Directed by: Deepak Kumar Mishra
Written by: Chandan Kumar
The election might heat up the screen, but it doesn’t warm the heart the way Phulera used to.
