Panchayat - Marshmallow that is not just sweet nothings !

ASHOK’s FIVE reasons to watch “PANCHAYAT” now streaming on Amazon Prime simply because I am bowled over. This is a sooper dooper jalebi that’s dripping in sugar syrup, fresh off the pathila and yet not so sweet that gets you diabetic. It’s a wonderful little nugget waiting to be discovered and if you haven’t seen it yet, then you are perhaps missing the best Indian series on air this year. Panchayat is a three in one scoop – a discovery of rural India where everything is as simple as it seems, a discovery of self through the eyes of the protagonist Abhishek Trivedi (Jitendra Kumar in yet another TVF creation), and life lessons without a tinge of moral science instructions.

1.       Watch Panchayat for a simple story that is beautiful without being silly. Writer Chandan Kumar and Director Deepak Kumar Mishra get it spot on with a tale set in Phulera panchayat where time stands still, and simple issues are spun into a narrative that provides you fodder for thought. Typical village themes that include theft, women empowerment, male chauvinism, electoral politics, superstition and dowry are turned into a sweet collage of stories.

2.       The villagers in Panchayat are simple and not naïve and this is critical to understand. There is not one scene which is goofy, or which projects any character as a buffoon and yet the lace of humour that permeates the entire series is pure gold. The villagers ask the most obtrusive of questions that would seem insulting in an urban context, but their intent is not to offend. At the very next moment, they turn the issue into a wholesome suggestion or concern that is endearing. Sample the scene where the Pradhan (played brilliantly by Raghuveer Yadav) and the office assistant Vikas question Trivedi about his salary in relation to acceptance of dowry. The idea is not to belittle the man; rather his response plays a role in cementing an opinion about him that is unflinching.

3.       Full marks to the cast. Neena Gupta as Manju Devi the Pradhan is exceptional in the limited screen time that she has. She is just right in her saree and head-covering-pallu and the ease with which she slices the lauki is what completes the picture. The character is sketched out so well that little scenes and dialogues highlight the fact that she might well be illiterate but is in fact more world wise than her husband. Raghuveer Yadav can sleep walk his way through such roles. Jitendra Kumar is comfortable in his character. Kudos should go though to the casting director for every single supporting character and in particular Vikas the office assistant stands out for a brilliant portrayal of a man who is not as idiotic as he looks.

4.       The portrayal of the village and the rural lifestyle is progressive, healthy and vibrant. There is no squalor, no poverty or abject misery depicted. Instead you notice electricity, mobile phones and WhatsApp groups as part of life and jeans, trousers and shirts as de rigour in the sartorial style of the rural folk.

5.       Abhishek Trivedi as the new Panchayat secretary takes up the role reluctantly and his sole aim is to clear the CAT exams and get out of the situation that he has been thrust into. To that effect, he is sullen abrupt and brusque in his manner when dealing with the village folk. The villagers do not mind this; instead they look beyond his words and body language and sense the simple and upright character in their presence. Each ‘issue’ that crops up gets Trivedi to grapple with his reality thus getting him involved and gradually appreciate and finally fall in love with Phulera and its folk. And therein lies the learning – you need to get your hands dirty to appreciate the true nature of the circumstances you are in; isolating yourself from the issue is not the path to progress!

TVF has got this near perfect in terms of casting, screenplay and characters. The build-up is also amazingly paced; for example - Rinky the Pradhan’s daughter is mentioned in almost every episode but does not make an appearance till the las five minutes. Panchayat is simple, not silly; idyllic, not idiotic and makes you think without being preachy. The last scene where Manju Devi sings the national anthem and stands up to the District Magistrate is a lesson in women’s empowerment without an iota of moral high ground. Panchayat makes you fall in love with each character and makes you want to go experience their life and that is what makes it a winner!