BY NAMITA DOGRA SUDAN*
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
Episodes: 8
Genre: Drama / Slice of Life / Political Satire
Rating: ★★★★
The Story So Far – And Where It’s Going
Panchayat Season 4 returns with a bang, not the explosive kind, but the slow-burning kind that echoes long after the final episode ends. Picking up from the dramatic ending of Season 3, where Pradhan Ji (Raghubir Yadav) was shot by unknown attackers — the season doesn’t fully solve that mystery, but it lays down chilling clues. Meanwhile, Sachiv Ji a.k.a. Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar) finds himself entangled in a legal case from the past season — a case that could completely derail his dreams of a corporate life post-MBA. That threat lingers across the season, acting as a reminder that leaving Phulera may not be in his hands anymore. And as politics intensifies in the village, so do the cracks — within friendships, alliances, and even inside the hero group itself.
Characters You Continue to Love (or Love to Hate)
- Sachiv Ji / Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar): Torn between leaving and staying, ambition and attachment. His conflict is now more layered and relatable than ever.
- Pradhan Ji (Raghubir Yadav): Aging but sharp. Wounded but wise. Still fighting to keep his people and position intact.
- Manju Devi (Neena Gupta): The quiet backbone of the team. Her evolution from a reluctant Pradhan to a respected figure continues.
- Vikas (Chandan Roy): Loyal and sincere, but emotionally unsettled. One political moment this season forces him to question the day he took money from Prahlad Cha in Season 3. He’s torn between guilt and gratitude.
- Prahlad Cha (Faisal Malik): Stoic, bruised, and yet this season offers him a life-altering opportunity. His arc is brewing into something massive.
- Rinki (Sanvikaa): Intelligent and mature, her bond with Sachiv Ji deepens naturally, with love blooming quietly amidst chaos.
- Banrakas (Durgesh Kumar), Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar), Binod (Ashok Pathak): The villain trio. Conniving, shameless, and disturbingly relevant. They’re no longer side threats, they’re real dangers now.
What Works
Performances: The acting continues to be top-notch. Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy — everyone slips into their roles like second skin. The camaraderie among the cast is the soul of the show.
Pace & Writing: With just 8 tightly packed episodes, there’s no room for boredom. The humor is organic, the political satire sharp, and the emotions always land. The first episode itself sets the tone – Sachiv Ji is tense, cornered, worried about his future, but surrounded by love, laughter, and frustration. It’s brilliant.
Women Characters: In a rare feat for rural-set dramas, Panchayat gives equal voice and dignity to its female characters. Be it Manju Devi’s quiet wisdom, Kranti Devi’s fiery speeches, or Rinki’s evolving role, women are not side characters — they are power players in their own right.
Production & Tone: The rustic charm, earthy music, and minimalist direction continue to make Panchayat one of the most grounded series on Indian OTT. It’s still a family-friendly binge you can watch with anyone.
What Doesn’t Work
There is no proper recap or flashback at all. For a show so tied to past seasons, that’s a real issue. The shooting of Pradhan Ji, the case on Sachiv Ji, even the emotional threads from Season 3 — all reappear without context. New viewers are guaranteed to feel lost, and even loyal fans might need a mental refresh before diving in.
The Antagonist Camp: Shadows Over Phulera
This season, the opposition trio, Banrakas (Durgesh Kumar), Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar), and Binod (Ashok Pathak), step up their game. Their moves are ruthless, calculated, and designed to disrupt Pradhan Ji’s hold over Phulera. In a key scene, Pradhan Ji tries to sway Binod to switch sides, a move that backfires spectacularly. Binod not only reaffirms his loyalty to Kranti Devi’s party, but delivers a final parting jab that shakes the internal trust within Pradhan Ji’s own circle. A dangerous seed of doubt is planted.
Author’s Bonus Observation – The Lies Sachiv Ji Tells Himself
Let’s be honest — Sachiv Ji isn’t going anywhere. Yes, he tells himself he’ll leave Phulera one day. That he’ll get back to the city, reclaim his MBA dreams. But deep inside, he already knows, Phulera has become his life. From his genuine friendship with Vikas and Prahlad, to the unspoken bond with Rinki, and the emotional rollercoaster of rural politics, he is no longer an outsider here. He’s part of the soil. And if the writing is headed where it seems to be, Season 5 may offer him a major professional opportunity within Phulera itself. That will cement his future here, not just emotionally, but practically. Plus, let’s not forget, the legal case still haunts him. His return to corporate life may not be legally or morally viable anymore.
The Hook for Season 5 – Payback Time is Coming
The hero group suffers a setback this season, politically and personally. But there’s a fire brewing quietly. Prahlad Cha’s subplot, a lifetime opportunity, may just be the solution Phulera desperately needs. If handled right, it could turn the tables on the antagonist group and give viewers a payback arc of epic proportions. Season 5 already feels like the comeback we’re waiting for.Final Verdict:
Panchayat Season 4 is a beautifully written, tightly packed, emotionally resonant winner. Yes, it stumbles slightly in not providing a recap. But in everything else, emotion, humor, political insight, character development, it delivers flawlessly. It’s one of the few shows in India that truly respects both its characters and its audience. Even without flashy storytelling or big stars, Panchayat continues to be one of the most important, entertaining, and relatable shows in Indian OTT history. Now, all eyes are on Season 5. Because Phulera is no longer just a village. It’s a universe.
*Namita Dogra Sudan is the entertainment news editor and video news producer of NRIPulse.
