Panchayat Season 4 Review: A Familiar Tale Dipped in Politics, Losing Some of Its Old Spark | Watch Online

Panchayat Season 4 Review: A Familiar Tale Dipped in Politics, Losing Some of Its Old Spark

Streaming now on Amazon Prime Video, Panchayat Season 4 returns to the dusty lanes of Phulera, but this time with a heavier dose of politics and a lighter touch on the emotional simplicity that once defined the show.

The fourth installment of the beloved Hindi web series sees the return of familiar faces: Jitendra Kumar as Abhishek Tripathi (Sachiv Ji), Raghubir Yadav as Pradhan Ji, Neena Gupta as Manju Devi, and Durgesh Kumar as the ever-meddling Bhushan aka Banrakas. The village is gripped by election fever, setting the stage for a turf war between Manju Devi and Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar), while Abhishek wrestles with an FIR that could derail his business school ambitions.

Story & Themes

Season 4 kicks off shortly after the events of the previous season, diving straight into the political tensions surrounding Phulera’s upcoming Panchayat elections. As Abhishek tries to clear his name from an assault case filed by Bhushan, he finds himself reluctantly drawn deeper into local politics. Meanwhile, Pradhan Ji and Manju Devi’s camp face tough competition from Bhushan and Kranti Devi, who are determined to dethrone them using every tactic in the book—be it freebies or smear campaigns.

While the show attempts to maintain its grounded, slice-of-life narrative, this season leans heavily into political drama. Unfortunately, in doing so, it loses some of the warmth and innocence that made the earlier seasons so memorable. Episodes now feel more like extensions of a long-winded campaign trail than standalone gems, a hallmark Panchayat once excelled at.

What Works

Despite the thematic shift, performances remain the soul of the series. Jitendra Kumar brings quiet conviction to Abhishek’s character, capturing his inner turmoil and indecision with subtlety. Durgesh Kumar’s Bhushan is a standout—energetic, mischievous, and unpredictable. Ashok Pathak (Vinod) and Faisal Malik (Prahlad) add emotional layers, especially as their personal arcs gain prominence. The ensemble cast—Neena Gupta, Chandan Roy, Sunita Rajwar, and Raghubir Yadav—continue to embody the everyday realism that viewers have grown fond of.

Moments of levity and quirk still shine through. Scenes like the laddoo argument, awkward dinners, and Bhushan’s sarcastic one-liners remind audiences why they fell in love with Phulera in the first place. The rustic charm of the village, its colorful characters, and the slow-burn relationships, like Abhishek and Rinki’s (Sanvikaa), still provide comfort.

What Doesn’t

However, the season struggles with pacing and narrative cohesion. Midway through, the story begins to drag, and several episodes feel padded with filler moments. Subplots, such as the one involving Manju Devi’s father, offer little to no contribution to the main narrative. The emotional highs are fewer, and the humor, once effortless, now feels sporadic.

Perhaps the biggest misstep is how the show portrays its central conflict. The writing reduces Bhushan and Kranti Devi to cartoonish villains, robbing the story of nuance. Meanwhile, Pradhan Ji, once seen as a balanced and wise leader, now appears more like a typical politician clinging to power through populism. The moral clarity that once guided the show is noticeably absent.

Watch Panchayat Season 3 Official Trailer

Technical Aspects

Direction by Akshat Vijaywargiya and Deepak Kumar Mishra remains steady but lacks the creative spark of earlier seasons. Chandan Kumar’s writing shows signs of fatigue, often relying on familiar beats. Cinematography by Amitabha Singh captures the earthy visuals well, though the editing could’ve been tighter to enhance flow. The background score blends in without making a lasting impression.

Verdict

Panchayat Season 4 is not a bad watch—it’s just a step down from its former brilliance. The characters and village setting continue to engage, but the political-heavy plot dilutes the show’s emotional essence. While it offers moments of charm and strong performances, especially from Jitendra Kumar and Durgesh Kumar, the narrative lacks the freshness and relatability of previous seasons.

For long-time fans, this season may still be a comforting return to Phulera, but with tempered expectations. It's a watchable, albeit less impactful, continuation—one that reminds us of why we loved Panchayat but also hints that it might be time for the show to reinvent itself or wrap things up.

Rating: 3/5 – A good watch with a few hiccups, saved by great performances and a promising ending.

The cast of Panchayat Season 3 includes Jitendra Kumar as Abhishek Tripathi, Neena Gupta as Manju Devi, Raghubir Yadav as Brij Bhushan Dubey, Chandan Roy as Vikas, Faisal Malik as Prahlad Pandey, and Sanvikaa as Rinki.