Set in a small village of Uttar Pradesh, Amazon Prime’s latest offering Panchayat gives an insight into the daily routine and struggles of rural India. The show commences on a disappointing note when a young graduate Abhishek Tiwari (played by Jitendra Kumar) is appointed as the Panchayat secretary of village Phulera.
Already regretting his decision of applying for a job in a remote village in India, Kumar plays the role of a city boy stuck in a village. He then decides to prepare for MBA to look for a better job opportunity and “get out of the goddamn village”. The story then progresses as he struggles to make himself feel at home while trying to adapt to the village lifestyle.
However, the villagers, along with other members of the Panchayat, welcome him with open arms. Senior actor Neena Gupta is seen as the Pradhan of the village, but her post is nominal and dictated by her husband. The concept of ‘Pradhan Pati’, which still exists in rural parts of India, is exquisitely depicted in the show. However, she perfectly knows how to own the throne from inside the walls of her house. The series also sheds light on issues of sanitisation and dowry system that continue to haunt rural India till date.
Actor Raghubir Yadav is seen as the Pradhan Pati, a character who juggles between being a family man and solving village issues in all honesty. Other actors including Faisal Malik and Chandan Roy are seen in key roles and accurately depict innocence. Their comic timing is on point and will definitely make your funny bone tickle. Throughout the series, the lead is urged to climb up the village tank right next to the panchayat office and assured that the village looks more beautiful from atop.
Another suspense that the makers have managed to create and make one watch the series till the end, is Pradhan’s daughter. Just when Abhishek finally decides to climb up the tank, viewers get a glimpse of her, leaving them wanting to know more about her!