Panchayat Season 4 Review: Much Like Season 3, There Are Some Remnants of the Original Panchayat Humour
Prime Video’s beloved rural dramedy Panchayat is back with its fourth season, and fans are divided. While the show’s soul still peeks through the cracks, the political intrigue and darker undertones take center stage, dimming some of the quirky charm that made the show a cult hit in its earlier seasons.
A Grittier Take on Village Politics
The latest installment, streaming now on Amazon Prime Video, dives deeper into the grimy trenches of local politics in Phulera, a fictional village that has now become a familiar backdrop for millions of viewers. “Politics hai gudde-gudiyon ka khel nahin…” says Pradhan-pati Brij Bhushan Dubey (Raghubir Yadav), summing up the core tone of the season. The innocent idealism of earlier seasons is slowly being replaced with strategic manipulation, power plays, and emotional strain.
That said, there’s no shortage of internal tension either. Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar) — the overqualified but reluctant village secretary — still dreams of leaving it all behind for an MBA life, but the weight of relationships, both personal and political, tethers him more tightly to Phulera than ever before.
Traces of Classic Panchayat Humour
Despite the serious tilt, there are delightful moments that remind us of what Panchayat originally stood for. From the hilarious group chat antics initiated by a simple “Hi” text from Pradhan ji (the code for a boozy evening) to the ever-sassy “Aye sasur!” quip delivered right in front of Pradhan ji’s actual sasur (Ram Gopal Bajaj), the show occasionally breaks into its signature deadpan comedy.
Faisal Malik’s portrayal of Prahlad remains one of the emotional backbones of the show. His rare chuckles serve as a soft balm to the haunting grief of having lost his son — a soldier — in Season 2.
Lauki vs. Pressure Cooker: Symbolic Warfare
This season, election symbolism becomes a battlefield. Manju Devi’s party clings to the lauki (bottle gourd) while their rivals, led by the feisty Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar), rally behind the pressure cooker. These metaphors drive much of the season’s conflict, even extending to smear campaigns involving personal attacks, like the one against Vikas Shukla’s (Chandan Roy) pregnant wife, Khushboo (Tripti Sahu).
The fight for votes includes everything from dirty toilet humour to food bribery, nodding to real-world rural political tactics and even tipping its hat to initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Food, Ego & Laddoos
Food continues to be a subtle but powerful storytelling device. Whether it’s Bhushan buying up all the potatoes or Manju Devi serving villagers samosas to gain favor, food equals influence. There’s even a wink at Lalu Prasad Yadav’s samosa-aloo legacy.
Rinky (Sanvikaa), who finally shares romantic moments with Abhishek, battles her own ambitions and ego. Their relationship teeters between hope and heartbreak, especially as Abhishek awaits his CAT results. A cold kachori can be forgiven — a bruised ego, not so much.
The laddoos in this season serve as literal and metaphorical indicators of electoral confidence. One party orders 50 kg of laddoos in pure desi ghee while the other settles for 25 kg made in vanaspati — and that tells you everything about who thinks they’re going to win.
A Set-Up for Season 5
While some characters shine — like Binod and Madhav, who finally get more space and substance — others seem to blend into the backdrop. Neena Gupta’s Manju Devi makes attempts to poach opposition players with sweet seviyan, but her emotional weight from earlier seasons has taken a backseat.
The show ends by clearly setting the stage for Panchayat Season 5. The stakes are higher, loyalties are shakier, and Abhishek’s resignation looms in the background. Will he escape Phulera, or will the village politics keep pulling him back in?
Final Verdict
If you’re a Panchayat loyalist, this season might feel like a necessary evolution — a dip before the final leap. But if you’re a casual viewer tuning in because of the social media buzz (check trending tweets here), the tonal shift might leave you lukewarm.
Still, with a stellar ensemble (Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Chandan Roy, Sanvikaa, Faisal Malik) and masterful direction by Deepak Kumar Mishra, Panchayat Season 4 remains an essential, albeit slightly darker, chapter in Indian web storytelling.
saranya
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