Heartwarming Portrayal of India Rural Life Continues to Captivate Viewers in “Panchayat” Season 3
By Mahadev Desai

Panchayat Season 3 has been released on May 28, 2024. Before reading this review, reader is advised to read the review of Seasons 1 and 2.

https://www.atlantadunia.com/Dunia/Features/F324.aspx

 

Season 3 has more local politics than in previous two seasons. At the end of Season 2, the corrupt MLA Chandrakishore had ordered transfer of Abhishek to another village. Abhishek, however is thinking of quitting his job. Events take a curious turn however. Abhishek keeps in touch with Rinki who gives her the village updates. She told him that it was rumored that Chandrakishore had not only killed his neighbor’s dog but also eaten the dead dog’s meat! He is suspended from his post and all his executive orders nullified.
So, Abhishek is reinstated in his job. Abhishek returns to Phulera.
After the loss of his son, Prahlad is full of grief and Abhishek, Vikas, Brij Bhushan try to cheer him up.
Bhushan(Durgesh Kumar) meanwhile tries to find weak spots in Brij Bhushan’s leadership. He blames Brij Bhushan for the poor state of the village road. The Government had initiated Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, whereby poor villagers were given a subsidy to enable them get a home. Phulera had two divisions- East and West. Abhishek, Vikas, and Brij Bhushan lived in West division whereas Bhushan and his sidekicks Binod(Ashok Pathak) and Madhav lived in East Phulera. West division had picked seven names for the subsidy, and only four names for the East side. To make it worse, Abhishek, out of kindness had picked an old lady Damayanti for the subsidy. She was living with his grandson Jagmohan, his wife and young boy in a stone house but she wanted to live in her own house! At the village council, Bhushan accuses Brij Bhushan and Manju Devi of favoritism.
Chandrakishore is released on bail. He gets a horse. He and his daughter Chitra name the white horse ‘Sitara’.

Rinki takes the initiative in getting closer to Abhishek. Their plan however to go up to the water tank in the evening and sip tea together doesn’t work out. So, they ride on Abhishek’s motorbike to Fakauli Bazaar, enjoy samosas, and go to the Temple. Abhishek suggests Rinki that she should try doing MBA. Rinki is not confident but agrees however. She probably thought this would help keep in touch with Abhishek and also provide an excuse to delay her marriage.

Bhushan and Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar) meet with Chandrakishore and offer to work with him. They suggest that the MLA should make peace with Phulera. Brij Bhushan, Manjula Devi, Abhishek, Vikas and Prahlad together with the village residents welcome the MLA, his daughter Chitra and security people. Chandrakishore snubs Brij Bhushan and Manjula Devi by inviting Bhushan to garland him. He takes lunch at Binod’s home instead of at Brij Bhushan’s home. The MLA wanted to make a spectacle by releasing a pigeon to mark the peace offer. He and Bhushan release the pigeon but after flying a bit, the pigeon falls on the ground and dies. Everyone is shocked. The pigeon owner, Bam Bahadur(Amit Kumar Maurya) is upset and calls the MLA a murderer. Chandrakishore and his men make a hasty exit from the ceremony.
Two media reporters from local paper interview Bam Bahadur. The video goes viral and the MLA is enraged when he comes to know about it. When Bam Bahadur and Phulera West residents refuse to apologize, the MLA asks two goons to punish Bam Bahadur by breaking his leg. The goons fail because Bam Bahadur outruns them before they can do anything.

When Brij Bhushan, Prahlad, Abhishek, Manju Devi and Rinki learn that Vikas’s wife Khushbu is pregnant, they congratulate both Vikas and her and throw a big party at Prahlad’s home.
Rinki’s friend Raveena and her husband Ganesh(Aasif Khan) visit Phulera for a vacation. They go on an outing where Ganesh and Abhishek get closer.
Because of allegations about the dog and the pigeon, Chandrakishore is advised to sell his horse. He doesn’t want to sell him to any Phulera resident though. Prahlad helps Ganesh buy the horse on behalf of Phulera. This infuriates the MLA and he sets out with his security people to confront the defiant Phulera team. Situation gets tense but at the last minute the MLA is advised by the Parliamentarian to cool down.
Matter doesn’t end there. Abhishek has to take his CAT exam.in Banaras. Brij Bhushan, Vikas and Prahlad accompany him to the bus stop. The bus is about to stop, when two masked gunmen on a motorbike come close and begin shooting at Brij Bhushan, Vikas and Prahlad. Abhishek safely boards the bus. When he returns to Phulera after his exams., he learns that Brij Bhushan has been shot on his shoulder but luckily survived the attack.
Please await Season 4’s likely release in Mid-2026 !