Panchayat Season 4 review: Disappointing return with scattered plots and faded charm
The beloved TVF series 'Panchayat' returns with its fourth season, a piece of good news for loyal fans who were waiting to revisit Phulera. But if you've stuck around for the emotional warmth and simplicity the show originally offered, Season 4 might leave you disappointed.Let's be honest here. 'Panchayat' stopped being a comedy after Season 2. While the second season ended on a heavier note, the third dived deep into village politics, especially the clash with the Bhushan gang that culminated in a dramatic shoot-out, leaving Pradhan injured. Season 4 picks up right where things left off with elections taking centre stage.advertisementThis time, it's Team Manju Devi vs Team Kranti Devi for Pradhan's (village head) seat, and election drama dominates most of the episodes. But despite the political heat, the new season lacks the emotional punch and relatability that once defined the show. As a long-time Panchayat fan, this one felt underwhelming.The opening episode sets the tone with Abhishek in a foul mood, worried about how being booked under IPC Section 323 might affect his future. His cousin is abruptly sent back from Phulera, and the vibe is off from the get-go.Still, the show isn't a complete letdown. One of the few highlights is Neena Gupta's Manju Devi. Her character has shown tremendous growth. From being a token Pradhan to taking control, making decisions, and even calling out her husband's mistakes. It's one of the few arcs that wins hearts.advertisement
Raghubir Yadav's Pradhan, on the other hand, seems to care only about winning the election, no matter how. His character, who was never shown as ideal, is now more desperate and less layered.
Faisal Malik, Raghibir Yadav, Jeetendra Kumar and Chandan Roy in a still from Panchayat Season 4.
Abhishek's arc is the most disappointing of all. He comes across as emotionally unavailable and half-hearted in his personal life. He's that boyfriend no one deserves, always distracted, barely making any real effort. We feel you, Rinky (Saanvika). Moreover, we don't see him do his job well either. He has long missed the train of being an impartial party in the village elections, and even outside of politics, his duties feel neglected.Several scenes feel unnecessary. For example, why did all four - Abhishek, Vikas, Prahlad, and Pradhan - go to get the electrician? They knew it was troubled waters, so how were they not prepared for the unexpected? While the audience may enjoy a few laughs here and there, most of the punches don't land.advertisementEpisode 5 brings in Manju Devi's father (Ram Gopal Bajaj), who somehow shares more screen time and dialogue with Sachivji than with his own daughter. What was the point?Then there's the bizarre scene of Bhushan AKA Banrakas cooking lauki in a pressure cooker right in the middle of the village. If it was a campaign move for Kranti Devi, it missed the mark. The cooker blast that follows and Abhishek's attempt to help just adds to the chaos, but not in a meaningful way.Another low point in the show was Pradhan's sudden outburst, a scene where he yells and throws things around. It feels random and forced, especially since he wasn't even shown drunk. It just didn't fit the tone of the show. While a few character arcs disappoint, Faisal Malik doesn't have to try hard to move you. At one point, you genuinely feel for this man (Prahlad), who has lost his son and now finds himself stuck in this circus, just for the sake of his friends.
Ashok Pathak, Durgesh Kumar and Bulloo Kumar in a still from the show.
advertisementApart from Manju Devi, another character who grabs attention is Binod (Ashok Pathak). Pathak, who was promising in previous seasons, takes it a notch higher in this one. Whether it's getting emotional during the election verdict, enjoying dinner at Pradhan's house, or standing up for himself, he delivers a fantastic performance. He, along with Bulloo Kumar (who plays Madhav), brings spark to otherwise dull scenes.'Panchayat Season 4' tries to ride on the charm of its past but stumbles with half-baked subplots and unconvincing character arcs. It has a few bright spots, especially Manju Devi's evolution, but overall, this season feels more like a filler than a fresh chapter.- Ends2.5 out of 5 stars to Panchayat Season 4.
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Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
Panchayat season 4 X review: Jitendra Kumar's show disappoints fans, feels dragged and lacks signature humour
Panchayat season 4 X review: Season 4 of Panchayat brings back the familiar rural setting and emotional storytelling, but this time, it leans more heavily on drama than humour. Jitendra Kumar reprises his role as the sincere Abhishek Tripathi, as the narrative explores deeper emotional conflicts, rising political stakes, and shifting dynamics within Phulera. While the season offers rich character development and poignant scenes, the noticeably slower pace and toned-down comedy might feel like a departure from the show's earlier tone. Panchayat season 4 X review - Jitendra Kumar's show dissapoints Going by what people on X (formerly Twitter) are saying, while the show is high on emotions this time around, it lacks the signature humour it usually delivers. Viewers feel that although the show is heartfelt, it doesn't quite match up to the previous seasons and feels dragged out. One wrote, ' Feels boring in some parts, especially when compared to previous seasons. Less comedy this time. Story feels dragged.' Another added, 'Finished #panchayatseason4, dragged storyline, less comedy,more emotional as compared to previous seasons.' A third went on to add, '#Panchayatseason4 the worst season of all... Utterly ridiculous and disappointing.' #panchayatseason4 the worst season of all... Utterly ridiculous and disappointed. Finished #panchayatseason4, dragged storyline, less comedy,more emotional as compared to previous seasons,but still fav.🤩(Why endings like these every season😏)#PanchayatOnPrime Sorry to say, but Panchayat Season 4 is a letdown. The election drama feels overstuffed, with too much chaos and unnecessary complexity in the scenes. It lost the charm and simplicity we loved. #PanchayatSeason4 Just one word... Disappointing!!! 🥺 #PanchayatOnPrime #panchayatseason4 #PanchayatSeason4 Review:-(+):✔️ Strong performances✔️ Emotionally rich storyline✔️ Love angle adds a nice touch 👀👌(-):⚠️ Feels boring in some parts, especially when compared to previous seasons..⚠️Less comedy this time⚠️Story feels dragged🥲...My Rating :- 3.75/5 🌟 What is Panchayat web series on Prime Video about? Created by writer Chandan Kumar and director Deepak Kumar Mishra, the web series follows an engineering graduate who takes up the role of a panchayat secretary in the rural village of Phulera, located in Uttar Pradesh. Panchayat season 4 cast The cast sees the return of familiar faces including Chandan Roy as Vikas, Sanvikaa as Rinki, Faisal Malik as Prahlad, Ashok Pathak, Durgesh Kumar as Bhushan, Sunita Rajwar as Kranti Devi, and Pankaj Jha reprising his role as the corrupt MLA Chandra Kishore Singh. Have you watched the show yet? If not, you can now stream Panchayat season 4 on Prime Video.
Scroll.in
an hour ago
- Scroll.in
‘Panchayat' season 4 review: Easy-going charm loses the vote to an over-hyped election
In Phulera village in Uttar Pradesh, where time tends to move at a glacial pace, things are finally beginning to hot up. The contest between Manju Devi (Neena Gupta) and Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar) for the sarpanch's post is round the corner. The threat of regime change assumes war-like proportions. Manju Devi's bottle gourd election symbol is being wielded with ferocity against Kranti Devi's cooker. Manju Devi needs all the help she can get from her husband and ex-sarpanch Brij Bhushan (Raghubir Yadav), daughter Rinku (Sanvikaa) and supporters Vikas (Chandan Roy) and Prahlad (Faisal Malik). Kranti Devi's ambitious husband Bhushan (Durgesh Kumar) and his lackeys Binod (Ashok Pathak) and Madhav (Bulloo Kumar) have the backing of the legislator Chandrakishore (Pankaj Jha), who has a long-running beef with Brij Bhushan. Although the new season of Prime Video's Panchayat is organised around the election, there is occasion for village council secretary Abhishek (Jitendra Kumar) to ponder whether he should flee Phulera for good. Abhishek has long been trying to clear the exam for a prestigious educational institute. But he has lowered himself deeper into the Phulera swamp than he cares to admit. He has lost his neutrality as a government employee and his heart to Rinku. He has genuine affection for Vikas and Prahlad. Initially focusing on Abhishek's fish-out-of-water experiences, Panchayat has evolved – or devolved in some respects – into a study of local-level politics. The Hindi comedy continues with the 'six steps forward three steps backward' approach that has characterised it since the first season in 2020. The more things change in Phulera, the more they stay the same – once an insight into the rural setting, this is now also a major source of contrivance. Hugely popular and spawning remakes in other languages too, Panchayat isn't going to give up hard-earned territory in a hurry, just like Manju Devi. The latest eight-episode instalment hypes the election, which invites an income tax raid and even the intervention of the 'High Command', represented by Member of Parliament (Swanand Kirkire). It appears at times that Manju Devi and Kranti Devi are competing to lead the country, rather than Phulera. The tried-and-tested plot elements work far better than the new shenanigans. Writer Chandan Kumar and director Deepak Kumar Mishra – both veterans of the series – are adept at maintaining interest levels. The creators drop in sharply written stand-alone moments and entertaining non sequitur-heavy conversations whenever the electioneering gets out of hand, which is nearly always. The core group – Abhishek, Manju Devi, Brij Bhushan, Vikas and Prahlad – continues to demand and earn emotional investment. Anything involving Vikas and Prahlad is a showstopper. Chandan Roy, as Vikas, and Faisal Malik, as Prahlad, have imbibed their fictional selves so completely that they can easily command a spin-off series. Durgesh Kumar is a riot as Bhushan, as is Pankaj Jha as Chandrakishore. Their antics are nudging Panchayat into a direction that takes us further away from Abhishek's dilemma. For all of Bhushan's boundless scheming, it's a miracle – or a convenient oversight – that he hasn't cottoned on to the Abhishek-Rinku coupling, which remains as dull as ever. Not for the first time, now more than ever, Abhishek wonders whether Phulera will survive without him. Panchayat is still laidback enough to postpone the decision for a few more seasons. Play
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Panchayat Season 4 Twitter review: Fans are impressed with rich storyline. Check plot, cast, and what's next for the series
The residents of Phulera are back, and so is the heart and soul of rural storytelling with Panchayat Season 4, which dropped at midnight on June 24 on Amazon Prime Video . While the latest chapter continues to capture village politics, quiet emotions, and slow-burn charm, not every viewer is on board this time. The new season, featuring Jitendra Kumar , Neena Gupta, and the beloved ensemble cast, has sparked a wide range of reactions—some full of admiration, while others express disappointment, particularly with its emotional ending and slower pace. Check out the X reviews below: Rich storyline One viewer gave Panchayat Season 4 a rating of 3.75 out of 5, appreciating the strong performances, emotionally rich storyline, and the subtle love angle. However, they felt the season lacked the comedic punch of earlier ones and seemed dragged in parts. — SRKzSanjay (@SRKzSanjay) Another fan hailed the show as more than just entertainment, calling it an institution of cinema. They praised its storytelling and emotional depth, describing it as a show that makes viewers both laugh and cry. — KushagraSaxena_ (@KushagraSaxena_) Heartbreak over election loss A different user highlighted the season's highs and lows—celebrating Sachiv Ji's CAT success but expressing heartbreak over Pradhan Ji's election loss. — iAmbhupen7 (@iAmbhupen7) Underwhelming response for ending Not all feedback was positive, though. One viewer criticised the ending, calling it a major letdown. They found the episodes underwhelming and hoped the series wraps up with a stronger Season 5. — Postivebro09 (@Postivebro09) Looking forward to Season 5 Meanwhile, another user praised the show's ability to blend lighthearted village antics with deeper emotional undertones, calling it a gem of Indian storytelling. They're already looking forward to Season 5. — SarvoParihar (@SarvoParihar) About the show: Cast and crew Created by The Viral Fever (TVF) and directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra , Chandan Kumar writes Panchayat and stars Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, and more. It follows an engineering graduate who becomes the panchayat secretary in the fictional village of Phulera. Season 4 plot With panchayat elections in full swing, the power struggle between Pradhan's and Bhushan's camps takes centre stage, with Abhishek caught in the middle of a high-stakes village drama.
