Panchayat Season 2 is an absolute delight!

Bharath Vijayakumar

We are back in the remote village of Phulera for the second season of Panchayat. In the first season, we were much like Abhishek (Jitendra Kumar), getting to know the place and its characters as a reluctant outsider. In this season, the boundaries diminish and Abhishek seems to be at home at Phulera, though he still aspires to get out of the place for better financial opportunities. This season gets us closer to the characters and we very much feel a part of the landscape.

Panchayat stands out from the crowd because it is uncomplicated. It remains simple and doesn’t rely on big twists and turns to keep you engaged. What we get is a handful of extremely likable characters, their interactions, their conflicts and their daily routine. There isn’t a single false note about this series that doesn’t judge its characters. None of them are saints but characters with their own flaws and limitations. But what strikes us is their naivety. In fact, this naiveness is the USP of Panchayat. It never comes across as forced because the actors are terrific. Even characters like Bhushan (AKA Banrakas) and his wife who give trouble to the primary characters aren’t exactly evil and display a certain innocence. Almost all the humour arises from this naiveness of the characters and the humour is always subtle.

After a glimpse in the final episode of the first season, Rinky (Sanvikaa) makes a full-fledged appearance here. The blossoming of a relationship between her and Abhishek, which cannot even be termed as friendship at this point, is nicely done. It is as though we are eager for them to be in love but they aren’t. You get a feel that they are being extremely careful to not fall for each other. Even characters that come in only for a brief while have great scenes and make their presence felt. Be it the dancer (she has a superb dialogue about how everyone is essentially dancing), the jeep driver or the ward member who is waiting for a toilet to be built, every actor is a natural. The bond that develops between Abhishek, Bhushan (Pradhan Ji), Prahlad and Vikas feels so real. The last episode is highly emotional and leaves you misty-eyed. Even here, there is no place for melodrama and the performances are brilliant.

Bottomline

Panchayat Season 2 is a delightful watch. It keeps you smiling and feels like a warm embrace. The acting, the writing, the music, the humour, the emotions, the pacing and what not. Everything about this one is top-notch!

Rating: 4/5

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video