Panchayat Season 4 review: Phulera's wackiest political showdown yet
New Delhi: Returning to Phulera feels dusty, unpredictable, but always endearing. Every time Panchayat drops a new season, it’s like getting dragged into a place you didn’t know you missed, where the air tastes of politics and cow dung. What’s wild is, even with all this small-town Game of Thrones action, the show doesn’t lose its heart.
It’s still got that awkward warmth and the kind of honesty you only get when people are too tired to lie. The satire’s sharper, the stakes are higher, but you still wanna hang out with these characters as you hop from one episode to another.
Panchayat Season 4 kicks off shortly after the assault on Pradhan Ji (Raghubir Yadav), which leads to a retaliatory FIR against the local MLA, Chandrakishore “Chandu” Singh (Pankaj Jha). Meanwhile, Manju Devi and Kranti Devi are duking it out for the Pradhan’s chair, and the whole village is split down the middle. Thanks to the Bhushan clan for causing chaos. Oh, and Abhishek’s still sweating over his CAT results, but honestly, that’s the least of his problems now. The election that starts as a simple village squabble turns into a full-blown power struggle before you can blink.
Jitendra Kumar breathes vulnerability into Abhishek, portraying the weight of indecision and the fatigue of rural politics with subtle brilliance. His internal conflict simmers just beneath the surface.
Neena Gupta slips seamlessly back into the role of Manju Devi and balances her maternal wisdom with political guile. Raghubir Yadav as Brij Bhushan also adds gravitas till the end.
Durgesh Kumar is an absolute revelation. His character Bhushan, aka Banrakas, is audacious, surprisingly strategic and of course hilarious. Ashok Pathak and Sunita Rajwar (as Kranti Devi) elevate their characters from background to pivotal. Sanvikaa, as Rinky, doesn’t get many moments, but her chemistry with Jitendra adds quiet charm. Even the supporting players, Vikas, Khusbhoo, Prahlad, and Bam Bahadur, anchor the season with the right balance between comic timing and emotional depth.
Season 4 of Panchayat does what few sequels manage. It grows with its audience. The storytelling is still charming, but now it bites where it must. The writing stays rooted in rural simplicity while addressing heavier themes like abuse of power, corruption, ambition, and moral compromise. Panchayat doesn’t throw in excessive drama for effect, unlike many other Indian web shows. Instead, tension builds from character motives and everyday scenarios. The election arc is engaging, not because of grand speeches or spectacle. But because the outcome genuinely matters to everyone involved, including us.
It’s not a perfect season, but it is a mature, confident one. And by the finale, the political becomes personal. Panchayat has quietly redefined how political satire can feel intimate and real.
WTF: Where’s the Flaw?But the roads are occasionally bumpy in the best-run villages. The show’s pace, though faithful to its roots, may test the patience of some. A few subplots feel like narrative fillers, charming, yes, but unnecessary. Sanvikaa’s Rinky, despite her growing relationship with Abhishek, still isn’t given the screen time she deserves. Similarly, the musical score that was once a gentle background presence has now taken a noticeable backseat. And while the humour is intact, a few punchlines feel recycled. Yet, these flaws do not derail the show.
In conclusion, Panchayat Season 4 is comical and grounded in realism. Watch it, if only to settle the Manju Devi vs. Kranti Devi debate once and for all!