This writer, known for dissecting socio-political currents, seldom covers international issues but almost never ventures into the realm of web series or films. To be clear, this is not a glossy review of Panchayat, but rather an invitation for Gen Z to explore the essence of rural Bharat through their phone screens.

This piece is a commentary on the essence of India’s villages, not a homage to a particular show.

Set in the fictional Phulera village of Uttar Pradesh, Amazon Prime Video’s Panchayat, crafted by The Viral Fever (TVF), weaves a tale that speaks to political hopefuls, civil service aspirants, and anyone curious about the heartbeat of public life in India’s 650,000-plus villages. Now streaming its fourth season as of June 24, 2025, Panchayat manoeuvres through the quirks, aspirations, and power plays of rural India with a rawness that feels like breathing the village air itself.

The story trails Abhishek Tripathi, portrayed by actor Jitendra Kumar, an engineering graduate stuck as Phulera’s panchayat secretary, his urban cynicism clashing with the village’s unpolished reality. This very dilemma pans a story that’s relatable, quirky, ludicrous, and hard-hitting, reflecting the simplicity and struggles of rural Bharat.

For those eyeing roles in governance or politics, Panchayat is a living textbook on grassroots India, where bureaucracy tangles with human eccentricity and local tiffs that brew beneath........

© News18