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India Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Panchayat: Women pack a punch
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated July 7, 2025)Few can claim to be 'India's most loved show' and get away with it. The Viral Fever's Panchayat is that rare show which does have the bragging rights. Packed with wry observations on everyday life and human behaviour in the hinterland and memorable characters, the Amazon Prime Video series has entered its fourth season, an incredible feat in itself. Actor Neena Gupta credits the writing of Chandan Kumar and the work put in by director Deepak Kumar Mishra. 'Season after season, they do something special. I wait for the script. I don't know how they do it,' she says. 'We don't need to improvise; sab kuchh milta hai [everything's there in the script itself].' She further attributes apt casting for the show's success, which has seen actors become synonymous with their parts, with some even featuring in viral memes (type Binod, Bhushan and Bam Bahadur in Google and get ready for laughs).advertisementOne such character to have struck a chord is the mean confrontational machine that's Kranti Devi, played by the talented Sunita Rajwar. 'Wherever you are from, people love Panchayat because you can watch it with your family,' she says.'Saral hai. Smart banne ki koshish nahin hai [It's simple. They don't try to be oversmart]. They show things with respect,' adds Gupta on the TVF formula that has seen it generate hit shows like Kota Factory, The Aspirants and Pitchers. Panchayat's fourth run puts the women in the spotlight: Rinki ki Mummy a.k.a. Manju Devi (Gupta) and Kranti Devi battle it out in the elections. Further proof of the ladies' growing stature are the promotional posters where Manju brandishes her election symbol, the gourd, while Kranti holds the pressure cooker.'This time, I have become interested in the elections and in doing things,' says Gupta. 'The seed was sown in the earlier seasons when characters have asked why I don't do anything.' If Manju Devi takes more initiative in the quest to retain her seat, Kranti is a rookie largely following the questionable footsteps of her husband, the ever-entertaining Bhushan a.k.a. Banrakas (Durgesh Kumar). 'I don't know any better,' says Rajwar of her character. 'For the first time, she is getting importance. She is going to the vidhayak's house, who in turn is playing the bigger game as he knows we are upset with Pradhaan-ji and company. But most of the major planning is done by the three [Bhushan, Binod and Madhav].'advertisementIt's one thing to be part of pop culture conversations, another to catalyse societal change. Such is the show's influence that the ministry of panchayati raj recently roped in members of the cast to shoot small skits where Gupta's Manju Devi is the elected representative calling the shots, and not her husband. 'There are seats where women win but it's the husbands who run the show,' says Gupta. 'But I have decided I will do this. To be part of an initiative that encourages and inspires other women is special.'Gupta was an inspiration to Rajwar herself. Like her, she too studied at the National School of Drama (NSD). 'The first time I saw a celebrity was when she visited the NSD campus. I remember she was wearing a lovely red outfit,' says Rajwar. 'We used to all look up to her. So in awe was I that I couldn't even go and talk to her.' Soon their paths would align in then Bombay as Rajwar arrived to kick off her acting career. The duo would first work in a play, Surya ki Antim Kiran se Surya ki Pahali Kiran Tak. 'She is the first person who ensured we were paid well for rehearsals and the play,' says Rajwar. 'Every time I was down [professionally], something worked out with her.' Rajwar would work as an assistant creative head in Gupta's production house and managed her daughter, Masaba, for a hi toh karna hai [One just has to work],' says Gupta of her role in assisting Rajwar in her professional journey. 'She has done a lot. Koi bhi kaam chhota nahin hota [No work is small]. She is proof that if you work hard and consistently, you will reach where she has. She has been to Cannes.' Rajwar plays a key part in India-set UK drama Santosh, which was the UK's submission to the best international film category at the Oscars. But it's her work in the TVF shows, Gullak and Panchayat, that has made Rajwar a familiar face. 'They have changed my life,' she to India Today Magazine- Ends
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Best TVF series to stream before Panchayat Season 4 release: Gullak to College Romance
Panchayat Season 4 is once again returning to win the hearts of fans. Scheduled for June 24 release, the TVF series has been gaining attention since it was announced. The trailer was released recently and it doubled up the anticipation for the new season. Starring Jitendra Kumar as Abhishek Tripathi, Neena Gupta as Manju Devi, Raghubir Yadav as Pradhan Ji, Faisal Malik as Prahlad, Chandan Roy as Vikas, Bhushan Kumar as Banrakas, Sunita Rajwar and Kranti Devu, and Sanvikaa as Rinki, the series will focus on the debate between Kranti and Manju Devi about who will be the head of the Phulera village while Abhishek and Rinki will explore their love with twists and turns. While we wait for Panchayat Season 4, stream other TVF series on OTTplay Premium. Get access to Jitendra Kumar's shows and movies ahead of Panchayat Season 4, such as Lantrani, and more on OTTplay Premium! The Viral Fever (TVF) produced Pitchers is one of the most-loved series among fans. From the plot to the characterizations, this series never goes old. Starring Naveen Kasturia, Jitendra Kumar, Anurabh Kumar, and Abhay Mahajan, Pitchers is the story of four friends who begin their own company after quitting their jobs. While doing that, they face the complexities of life, deal with struggles, ups and downs. The plot warms the hearts as it captures the simplicity of life like other normal people. Tripling is another TVF series that follows the story of three siblings, Chandan, Chanchal, and Chitvan, as they move through their personal struggles and embark on a journey together to strengthen their bond and find themselves. The series explores themes of family, relationships, and self-discovery. The cast includes Sumeet Vyas, Maanvi Gagroo, Amol Parashar, and others. Those who are Panchayat fans, love Gullak as well. This series depicts the daily life of a middle-class blended family in a small town in India. The plot is narrated from the perspective of a gullak (an earthen piggy bank), and it captures their joys, struggles, and the unique dynamics of their relationships. The series stars Jameel Khan as Santosh Mishra, Geetanjali Kulkarni as Shanti Mishra, Vaibhav Raj Gupta as their elder son Annu, and Harsh Mayar as their younger son Aman. InMates by TVF follows the lives of five close-knit twenty-somethings as they deal with the challenges of friendship, relationships, and self-discovery. This series explores themes of love, loss, and personal growth, with each character facing unique struggles and triumphs. The cast includes Ashish Verma, Mukti Mohan, Akanksha Thakur, Raghav Raj Kakker, Kashyap Kapoor, and others. College Romance is the story of three best friends – Karan, Naira, and Trippy who navigate their college life, love, and friendship. The show explores their personal romantic journeys, friendships, and the challenges of transitioning from college to adult life. The series was originally developed by The Viral Fever and features actors like Keshav Sadhna, Apoorva Arora, Manjot Singh, Gagan Arora, and Shreya Mehta.
