Watch TrailerTVF Panchayat is a poignant gift that keeps on giving. The familiar vicinage of Phulera, and its denizens, which has become an inseparable part of our pop culture is back again but with a more experimental direction in terms of storytelling. The third season presented by Chandan Kumar and Deepak Kumar Mishra has several ennobling moments that get etched in your conscience, and yet it lacks that punch that previous seasons had. Interestingly, this season pivots in a more dramatic direction, while retaining its immanent austerity. It is chaotic, overwhelming and even introduces the factor of unpredictability in several scenes. However, these new layers act as a deterrent to the soul of its ethos.
Picking up from the cliffhangers of the Season 2 finale, the now-transferred Sachiv Ji (played by Jitendra Kumar) has relocated to Delhi for his CAT preparation. While smoking a cigarette with a fellow aspirant at a tapri, his pensive face suggests that he is still mentally thinking about Phulera and the new Panchayat secretary taking his place.
Back in Phulera, Abhishek Tripathi’s replacement arrives at the Panchayat office on a bike but is dismayed to see the door latched with a lock. As it turns out, Brij Bhushan Yadav (played by Raghubir Yadav) and Vikas (played by Chandan Roy) are in cahoots to stop the new Panchayat secretary from joining. Taking stock of this situation, Bhushan aka Banrakas (played by Durgesh Kumar) attempts to influence the new secretary by instigating him against Brijbhushan and Chandan. Meanwhile, the new secretary who was appointed through the influence of disgruntled MLA Chandra Kishore Singh takes matters into his own hands when he starts to hammer down the Panchayat office lock.
That’s when Prahlad Chand (played by Faisal Malik) steps in to save the day. Unfazed by the new secretary’s threats, he mounts a cot right outside the Panchayat office and politely warns the secretary of dire consequences if he steps inside. The standoff between Brij Bhushan, Vikas, Prahlad and the new secretary dissipated when a phone call informs them that the MLA is arrested in an animal cruelty case and the DM will ensure that the old secretary Abhishek resumes his post.
As if waiting for this very news, Abhishek packs his bag and returns to Phulera. But what awaits him is more challenging. From navigating his attraction towards Rinki to tackling the dirty politics of the MLA, it becomes evident that Sachivji’s preparation will be marked by yet another interesting set of obstacles, one of which is also pertaining to the matter of palpable romance with Rinki.
At its heart, the new season of Panchayat has several heartwarming instances to look forward to. Whether it’s Prahlad’s tumultuous journey of coping with the loss of his martyred son Rahul to a poor, an elderly woman’s determination to secure a bigger house for her son and his family, even at the cost of living outside in a shabby hut or orchestrating a fake family drama, the makers weave an emotionally mature story around the brewing discontent between Phulera West and Phulera East and the political tug-o-war between the factions of Banrakas, Binod and Madhav, who are backed by the devious and crafty MLA and the coterie of Brij Bhushan, Vikas, Prahlad, Sachiv Ji and Smt Manju Devi(played by Neena Gupta), who are vying for support from the entire village.
We also witness the chemistry between Abhishek and Rinki develop gradually through the course of the 8-episode, and yet it is marked by a certain innocence and simplicity, a consistent trademark of the show. Even amid the turmoil, the duo are able to steal some time for one another, though interim but their camaraderie is winsome nevertheless.
Season 3 of Panchayat takes off well in the first three episodes. The makers tenderly intertwine the predicaments of Jagmohan and his family with a grieving Prahlad. One particular scene between Jagmohan’s mother and Prahlad, where the two confide in each other will move you to tears. It’s raw, touching and soul-stirring.
While the show has a handful of such moments, it gets criminally overshadowed by a dramatic track between the MLA and the village folks. Unlike the previous seasons, where we got to delve deep into the character’s dynamics and its relevance to the issues pertaining to the village, this season shifts its focus to an over-the-top narrative, which seems stretched and redundant after a while. Even the portrayal of the MLA is marred with stereotypical shades where the character is short-tempered, surrounded by lackeys wielding guns and other such traits borrowed from the usual tropes of Indian cinema.
But even with its flaws, the new season will continue to tickle your funny bones, especially through characters like Binod and Madhav. Meanwhile, a meme-worthy character from the first season makes its comeback and brings some relief to the tense atmosphere of Phulera. His banter with Sachivji towards the end of the season is quite interesting, considering their beef over ‘Chakke Waali Kursi’. The witty dialogues being the backbone of the show, the cinematography and musical score also lend gravitas to the narrative. Anurag Saikia, through songs like Aasman Rootha and Khwaab, once again captures the ethos of Phulera and its people. There is also a melodious number crooned by Manoj Tiwari, acquainting the viewers to the rich repertoire of UP’s folk music.
On the acting front, Faisal Malik as Prahlad steals the show with his portrayal of grief and how he overcomes the same. Even Chandan Roy as Vikas retains his on-screen humility as he juggles between his woes while being a supportive friend to Prahlad, Brij Bhushan and Abhishek. Jeetendra brings a tone of familiarity to his character which feels natural whenever he interacts with the people of the village.
Both Raghubir Yadav and Neena Gupta compliment each other beautifully, even when they are bickering at the top of their voices. Abha Sharma as Amma Ji will make you fall in love with her performance. Sanvikaa as Rinki is charmingly brilliant. Pankaj Jha as MLA Chandra Kishore Singh gets into the skin of an egoistic and power-hungry politician. Ashok Pathak brings more facets to Vinod. Durgesh Kumar plays the scheming Bhushan aka Banrakas with ease. Sunita Rajwar as Kranti Devi comes across as convincing. Even the supporting actors with the smallest of roles made this season impactful with their presence.
In essence, while the culmination of this season may have left some yearning for more and witnessed a subtle shift in its narrative essence, Panchayat 3 persevered in upholding its intrinsic charm—striking a delicate balance between humour, entertainment, and the uncharted depths of emotion waiting to be explored. As the expansive canvas of Phulera continues to expand with each passing season, the tantalizing prospect of uncharted territories beckons, promising a future brimming with untold tales waiting to unfold, leaving audiences eager to unravel the mysteries that lie ahead.
