Politically Panchayat

Maybe, racing steadily to become one of the enticingly enjoyable series of all times, stylishly rendering the commonest of affairs, the latest of the seasons reprises the drama of life with a promise to win all hearts.

Though rural politics of the village demands the limelight this time, but the simpler appeals of the villagers inhabiting ultimately wins over. The theme weaves the layers of varied lifestyles just like a rainbow, displaying the differences within while shining as a single entity of elegance.

Carefully crafted both by the writer (Chandan Kumar) and in direction (Deepak Kumar Mishra), the series fascinates with the minutest detail being showcased with the right blend of sentiments and the creative touch of humility and humour. Starting from the casting (Atul Parab, Sahaj Bhadoria, Suryaansh Tripathi) to the makeup (Sonya Batra, Aman Sharma, Pratik Salvi), everything is just tidily perfect!

As to the acting, Neena Gupta, Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Chandan Ray intrepidly synchronize with their natural spontaneity while Faisal Malik shines starkly with his distinct countenance that features his sweetly sober demeanour.

But with all due compliments, the only thing that must be admitted, however, is the fact that this season that ends in a serious cliffhanger, appears to be a wee bit less crisp than the predecessors, mainly due the initial episodes that may feel to be a tad too lengthy than required and a single major theme that the entire season predominantly repeats.

Panchayat: the indomitable spirit that continues

Simply outstanding! This is one of the few expressions that comes to the mind after watching the follow up season of this beautifully crafted series. Moments will fleet past as the episodes will mesmerise the audience with a simplicity, hardly seen nowadays. The season is a bouquet of the varied shades that life has to offer, wrapped in emotions, rich in spontaneity yet rooted to reality. Thus while petty conflicts and trivialities wedge a divide between opposing parties in the rural society, a greater cause drives off the wedge firmly and unites them for the sake of the land and for the prestige of her people. Comical moments intersperse with heart wrenching tragedies and both are presented in such a natural way that you will feel the glee of the characters as they laugh and the eyes will turn tearful as they sob.

The season starts with Abhishek Tripathi, the Panchayat secretary still trying for his MBA as he aspires for a better job. But his stay in the village for so long seems to take a toll on his sentiments and he grows to like the villagers and appreciate their original ingrained values, devoid of the artificiality that the urbanites possess. His friendship with the ex-Pradhan, the new Pradhan, her deputy and his own deputy grows strong yet poses some challenge in the way. Conflicting interests stand in the way at times, only to be brushed aside by the understanding and practical thinking with The Providence playing the dice, at times! Sprinkled with humour in just the right proportion, reliefs are there, too, in plenty like CCTV footage being explored to search for lost goat, snake coils around chilled drinks bottles to fend off excessive heat and drunk driver is appointed in a drive against addictions!

There is not much to say about the acting save that each of Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav,  Faisal Malik and Chandan Ray excels and stretch the limits of natural acting with a maturity that might be respectfully remembered for days if not years. Special mention is reserved for Faisal Malik for a specific sequence that will be etched in the memory as contrasting emotions are expressed in a single silent act that swings the mood of the ambience in seconds with a suddenness that only feels natural and never a bit artificially forced. Simplicity prevails in the lilting music by Anurag Saikia who designs the melodies to resonate with the ambience right from the opening score and trims them to suit the needs in the sweetest manner possible. Chandan Kumar writes this fascinating journey through the rustic elegance that remains partly hidden in the urban opulence, revealing the subtle shades of emotions and values among the apparently coarser class. Celebrating the spirit and sentiments of rural India, Deepak Kumar Mishra achieves the rare feat in his own merit by directing a season to fame that maintains, if not surpasses the rich flavour that the predecessor in the series soberly presented.

The Amazon Original, streaming obviously in Prime, is a must watch for matured audiences, young and old and recommended to start from the initial episodes for viewers, yet to watch the opening of the series!

The Panchayat

Celebrating the ordinary life of ordinary people in a very ordinary village, sweetness prevails as this series soothes the mood with lighter shades of reality. Brightly attired with simplicity all around, the series is a joyride through the interesting anecdotes that dotes the ordinary lifestyle. Varied sentiments of the human mind might never have been presented so perfectly with comic reliefs embedded at precise places. The pilot episode starts with the concept that develops into delightful themes with characters being introduced with their diverse shades as the series progresses. As the freshly graduated young man, Abhishek Tripathi is unable to be better placed than being Panchayat secretary in the village of Phullera, he reluctantly accepts it with the sole target of utilizing another year for studying for entrance to management institutes that might be his only chance to escape his apparent ordeal. But life is not that easy, it appears. Whenever Abhishek plans something for his studies, he only seems to invite confusions. Thus, his attempt to establish a continuous light connection gets thwarted as villagers deliberates whether the same light might be suitable for the area near the alleged haunted tree that is feared by every locale. Another time, a comfortable chair, ordered by Abhishek for easing his strains while sitting the whole day and studying at night, becomes the matter of specific concern to a village elder who feels threatened by this symbolic superiority. Interestingly, these criticalities posed by the simple minded villagers are solved by them only through their simple thinking blended by typical politics that leaves both parties not too unhappy. Again, Abhishek tastes the essence of life as the bitterest of aquintances turns saviour in the time of need and staunchest of ally emerge from seemingly uninterested parties. Through the unaccustomed eyes of the urban middle class, the elite and the commoners of the rustic ambience are seen in their unsophisticated elegance. The village values and ethics of the educated have been correctly contrasted as perspectives are analysed and characters reveal their finer shades.

Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, the series portrays the rustic motherland in her truest of selves. Jitendra Kumar as the naive Abhishek Tripathi bewildered by the rules of Phulwa is apt choice for the frustrating engineering graduate trying hard to get into management school amid his responsibilities for which he starts to have a bit of enthusiasm. Raghubir Yadav as the ex-Sarpanch with the attitude of the chair, even without it, is natural to say the least and radiates intelligence of the chief who is political but supportive. Nina Gupta as the elected Sarpanch but for the greater part housewife to the ex head of village is lady with a character that catches the eyes immediately. Gupta and Yadav plays the role of the elderly couple and balances each other perfectly with their expressions that exhibits matured brains of leaders and caring hearts of guardians. Chandan Ray as Abhishek's assistant, Vikas and Faisal Malik as the Deputy Sarpanch, Prahlad Pandey excels in their supporting roles and synch with the main cast meritoriously. The series can be termed as a classic and this Amazon Original is a must watch for the audience with a vintage taste.

Humility and humour intersperse in this comedy of human drama and is a beautiful rendering of the finer human sentiments with a coarse camouflage, designed to attract the attention readily and will be highly recommended for almost everybody.