Sequels are always a tricky business whether it is movies or web shows. The audiences have a certain set of expectations which are not easy to meet. But director Deepak Kumar Mishra does a very good job in exceeding those expectations with Panchayat season 2. Panchayat season 2 not only delivers laughs, but it also makes you introspect. Tight writing combined with solid performances makes this web series one of the better shows of this year.
For those who don’t know Panchayat season 1 followed the journey of Abhishek Tripati (Jitendra Kumar). Abhishek Tripati unwillingly accepts the job of a Panchayat secretary in Phulera. Phulera is a remote village in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. The first season was essentially about how he acclimatizes himself to the village. An important part of the show was his bond with the locals, particularly Pradhan (Raghubir Yadav), his wife and the actual Pradhan (Neena Gupta) and finally the two office bearers played by Faisal Malik and Chandan Roy, Season 1 also covered some important issues, but without any melodrama.
Season 2 takes off from where season 1 ended. Abhishek Tripati’s bond with the Pradhan and the others has become strong. There is also a hint of romance between Abhishek and the daughter of Pradhan. This season covers local politics, rivalries and also relatable issues like standing up for your friends.
It is easy to get repetitive with a premise like Panchayat. But director Deepak shows growth both in the characters and the story. We see new dimensions to the village of Phulera and also the residents living in it. The director smartly avoids the typical tropes of films set in rural India. He presents Phulera as a real place with real people. Most of the humor comes from the situations that people find themselves in. The director also nicely sets up Season 3 with a smart twist at the end.
Apart from delivering laughs, the series is also successful in dwelling into issues with simplicity. There are no lengthy monologues here. But Deepak Kumar Mishra gets the point across successfully.
The subtlety of the show also extends to the performances. Jitender Kumar shows once again why he is perfect actor to play Abhishek Tripati. Jitender has grown leaps and bounds; this is evident in the way he holds his own against the likes of Raghubir Yadav and Neena Gupta. Raghubir Yadav and Neena Gupta are actors who don’t need any particular validation. Both of them are in terrific form as always.
Faisal Malik and Chandan roy are more than just comic reliefs in Season 2. Towards the end there is a scene where Faisal Malik will get you close to tears.
One minor complaint about the series is the track of the foul-mouthed politician. It doesn’t serve any major purpose. Also you wish there was a little more of Neena Gupta.
In a nutshell, Panchayat Season 2 is going to make the audience impatient for Season 3.
