Panchayat Season 3 Review

Recently watched the third season of the TVF series Panchayat, and it feels like a tricky space. The first season always has the advantage of introducing something new to the audience, while the second season benefits from the familiarity of the premise and characters. However, the third season can be challenging as it needs to maintain the audience’s interest without feeling repetitive.

In this season, the story takes a more serious tone compared to the previous seasons, which were known for their light-hearted humor. The characters are facing new challenges, and the narrative explores deeper and more mature themes. For example, after the death of his son, Prahlad undergoes a significant transformation, and his grief is portrayed in a poignant and realistic manner. This shift in tone may feel unsettling at first, but it adds depth to the characters and the overall story. The season delves into the political dynamics of the village, particularly the power play between Bhushan and the MLA. The events that unfold have a significant impact on the village and ultimately lead to a confrontation between the villagers and the MLA. The series gradually builds up to this conflict, and the humor, which is a trademark of Panchayat, is still present but takes a back seat to the more serious narrative. One of the strengths of this season is the character development. Abhishek, played by Jitendra Kumar, remains a central figure, but the focus shifts more towards the village and its inhabitants. Neena Gupta as Manju Devi and Raghubir Yadav as Pradhan Ji deliver strong performances, and Faisal Malik’s portrayal of Prahlad’s grief is particularly memorable. The series also introduces new characters and gives more prominence to existing ones, such as Pankaj Jha’s MLA and Durgesh Kumar’s Bhushan.

The delayed entry into the established rhythm of the series can be seen as a gamble. While it temporarily reduces the fun elements that were prevalent in the earlier seasons, it allows for a more profound emotional connection with the characters. The series effectively balances humor with moments of genuine emotion, creating a solid emotional foundation for the storyline. As the season progresses, the humor returns, and the story builds towards a potentially intense and dramatic climax. The writing pushes the narrative into a semi-violent zone, hinting at a possible big-scale showdown in the next season. The performances across the board are commendable, with each actor bringing depth and authenticity to their respective roles

Overall, Panchayat Season 3 may not completely surprise viewers, but it successfully avoids falling into the trap of repetitiveness. The series manages to push the story into a moodier and more intense direction, setting the stage for what promises to be an intriguing next season.

Compiled by Nikhil