After three seasons of quiet charm, Panchayat is finally back with Season 4. Starring Jitendra Kumar and Neena Gupta in the lead, the people of Phulera have yet another story to tell. Two fierce contestants, Manju Devi and Kranti Devi, are in a face-off to win the elections in Phulera, and everyone’s busy doing some tadak bhadak campaigning. The trailer promised a chaotic yet heartwarming story this season, but does the series meet our expectations? Read our review of Panchayat Season 4 to find out.

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Panchayat Season 4: The plot

The last season ended on a cliffhanger as someone shot Pradhan Ji in the shoulder. People rumoured that he deliberately got himself attacked to get his wife, Manju Devi, sympathy votes. To top the chaos, Abhishek Tripathi, Phulera’s Panchayat Secretary, slapped Bhushan, aka Banrakas, in a scuffle. Panchayat Season 4 picks up from here, showing Abhishek worrying about his academic future due to the case. Nonetheless, he still helps Manju Devi campaign for the elections.

Meanwhile, Bhushan and his wife, Kranti Devi, try to outwit their rivals. With the help of Binod and Madhav, they go on a mission to clean the village. So, Manju Devi’s team executes other methods to gain the voters’ maximum support. Who will win the Panchayat elections this season? Will Abhishek secure a seat in one of the IIM universities? Will Bhushan withdraw his complaint to save Abhishek’s future?

Panchayat Season 4 series review: A boring attempt to retain its top spot

The show once thrived on its slice-of-life appeal with a simple rural setting. But the recent season tries too hard to get the same love. The script feels forced, the plot gets predictable, and the characters seem tired of solving the village chaos. This reminds me of Abhishek’s frustration in Season 1, when he said, “Pakk gaya hoon main.” The recent season reflects a boring attempt to continue with a theme that earlier entertained us. The first three episodes of Panchayat Season 4 build a story that could’ve been summed up in one. As much as the current season tries to dig deeper, it loses the charm that made us fall in love with it in the first place. But the show still isn’t a lost cause.

What we loved about Panchayat Season 4

In the later episodes, the plot picks up, keeping you engaged with its humour. The show retains its raw portrayal of the village politics. A few characters, including Manju Devi, Vinod, and Madhav, deliver spotlight performances this season as they single-handedly cover up for the stale plot. Manju Devi (Neena Gupta) and Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar), who took up a corner space earlier, are now taking centre stage.

Swanand Kirkire as Saansad Ji adds to the overall entertainment. With plenty of screen space, Vinod (Ashok Pathak) shows great character development. Ashok beautifully portrays the plight of a poor man, commonly perceived as foolish by his wealthy counterparts. Panchayat Season 4 also casts Raghubir Yadav, Pankaj Jha, Durgesh Kumar, Faisal Malik, and Chandan Roy, among others.

Panchayat Season 4 is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Can you watch Panchayat Season 4 with your family?: Yes, there are no intimate scenes or use of abusive language.

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