Familiarity, on one hand, provides comfort, but, at the same time, gives a monotonous vibe. AFter the three widely loved seasons, Panchayat returned with its fourth instalment, which released on Amazon Prime on June 24. This season received reviews from the viewers which spark the above mentioned monotony. The ending was quite predictable, to say the least. But it was also important to set the base for the next season, which is confirmed by the actor Sanvikaa, who plays Rinki.
What does Season 4 have in for the viewers?
Season 4 takes off from where it ended last. It begins with the characters in a situation where there is legal repercussions of starting a brawl with Bhushan (Durgesh Kumar). On the other hand, Brij Bhushan (Raghubir Yadav) is seen recovering from the injury caused by the gunshot. While Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar) is awaiting his CAT results, the election season is running its course in Phulera. The politics are in play. Bhushan informs on Vikas who recently bought a plot on the main road, worth close to Rs. 35 lakhs. On the other hand, Manju Devi hoards all the free potatoes, distributed by Kranti and Bhushan.
Even though Manju Devi (Neena Gupta) began as a mere name on the paper, she quietly makes space for herself in the forefront. But this is limited, as the village still has an all-male group, with Abhishek, Brij Bhushan, Vikas (Chandan Roy), and Prahlad Cha (Faisal Malik). Manju Devi stills lingers as her husband’s shadow and it is her husband who is known as Pradhan Ji.
From Wishing to Leave to Being Hesitant
Abhishek Tripathi had come with disappointment to bring some peace amidst the chaos in the village of Phulera. Aspiring to pursue MBA and sit for his CAT exams, he just wished to leave Phulera as early as possible. But as the season and the story progressed, his wait to leave Phulera changes into hesitance. He soon gels into the village atmosphere and becomes a part of the family. Even though his results are positive, he is left in a dilemma –should he leave for Delhi to pursue MBA? Or should he stay back for Rinki and the village people who have now become a family?
Though the love angle between Abhishek and Rinki isn’t explored a lot, it still manages to hold the viewers’ attention and heart in the little screen time that they get. It feels great to see how far they have come as a couple.
How The Love Angle Began and How It’s Going
It started with the first season when Abhishek was invited to Pradhan Ji’s home for dinner and he hears Rinki asking her mother for dinner. They meet face to face on the water tank when Abhishek is mulling, when he hears a girl clear her throat. He goes around to find Rinki sitting and sipping tea. The conversation takes place thus:
“Kaun hai?” (Who’s there?) Abhishek asked.
“Hum Rinki, Pradhan Ji ki beti” (I am Rinki, Pradhan Ji’s daughter).
The makers, in the current season, give them the screen in between the election tension, and they totally own it. In one such scene where they are walking, Rinki asks Abhishek about future plans, to which he replies that he would get a decent college and leave Phulera. She immediately stops in her path and stares at him. This sweet banter wins over the audiences’ heart.
Audience’s Divided Views
While some love its evolution through the seasons, others felt it is losing its charm with the slow-paced narrative. Some feel that its focus on the village politics has dulled its signature charm. But the season always had an angle of politics to it. As Sanvikaa also mentions, “Politics has always been a part of Panchayat.”
One of them took on to Instagram and wrote: “The story didn’t forget where it came from -it just grew, slowly, like everything in Phulera. Panchayat didn’t lose itself. It evolved. Just like us.”
Another wrote: “Panchayat develops inside you slowly and blooms into something else which feels soo comfortable.”
Some feel that it is boring in some parts, especially when compared to the previous seasons.
But overall, the season has some lovely moments that stay in the hearts of the audience -like the unwavering loyalty of Binod, and the scenes between Vikas and Khushboo (Tripti Sahu), and Abhishek and Rinki.
Will There be a Season 5?
Despite the mixed reactions, the buzz remains strong. Sanvikaa, who plays Rinki, confirms in an interview that the fifth season is already under progress. The shooting will begin probably by the end of this year, once the script is ready. With Kranti Devi winning the elections, and unresolved dilemma of Abhishek, the series has set its base for development in the upcoming season. The audience is eagerly waiting to see how the next season of Panchayat takes its pace from here.
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