<p>In our pandemic-tinted memories, Phulera is like its name. We tend to instantly associate it with flowers, idyllic landscapes and good-hearted villagers. <em>Panchayat</em> Season 1 (2020) was indeed the clichéd breath of fresh air we all gulped down gladly in the era of lurking viruses and pesky masks. </p>.<p>This was slow television at its best. It made us smile indulgently at the villagers’ quirks, ignore their occasional display of clever self-preservation and take their petty politics in our stride. Now in its fourth season, <em>Panchayat'</em>s Phulera brings to mind thorns rather than flowers. You no longer feel very forgiving about the occasionally mean villagers — they actively vex you. The mild fights have turned into fisticuffs, and the politicking has turned oh-so-murky. Is this a bad thing or a good thing? That is for the audience to decide.</p>.'Kaanta Lagaa' & 'Bigg Boss' fame Shefali Jariwala passes away at 42.<p>The fourth season, in fact, got quite the bad press initially. The flavour is certainly more bitter, but isn’t that how it is supposed to evolve?</p>.<p>Political machinations take centre stage as Pradhanji (Raghubir Yadav) and assorted supporters led by Sachivji (Jitendra Kumar) slug it out against Bhushan (Durgesh Kumar) and gang. The script is predictable (as it always was), but the major flaw lies in the stereotyping of the so-called ‘bad guys’ with sinister background music to boot! A little more nuance would have given the narrative much heft. Still, the series is quite watchable. The acting and chemistry among the ensemble cast are on point, and the finale is solid. </p>
<p>In our pandemic-tinted memories, Phulera is like its name. We tend to instantly associate it with flowers, idyllic landscapes and good-hearted villagers. <em>Panchayat</em> Season 1 (2020) was indeed the clichéd breath of fresh air we all gulped down gladly in the era of lurking viruses and pesky masks. </p>.<p>This was slow television at its best. It made us smile indulgently at the villagers’ quirks, ignore their occasional display of clever self-preservation and take their petty politics in our stride. Now in its fourth season, <em>Panchayat'</em>s Phulera brings to mind thorns rather than flowers. You no longer feel very forgiving about the occasionally mean villagers — they actively vex you. The mild fights have turned into fisticuffs, and the politicking has turned oh-so-murky. Is this a bad thing or a good thing? That is for the audience to decide.</p>.'Kaanta Lagaa' & 'Bigg Boss' fame Shefali Jariwala passes away at 42.<p>The fourth season, in fact, got quite the bad press initially. The flavour is certainly more bitter, but isn’t that how it is supposed to evolve?</p>.<p>Political machinations take centre stage as Pradhanji (Raghubir Yadav) and assorted supporters led by Sachivji (Jitendra Kumar) slug it out against Bhushan (Durgesh Kumar) and gang. The script is predictable (as it always was), but the major flaw lies in the stereotyping of the so-called ‘bad guys’ with sinister background music to boot! A little more nuance would have given the narrative much heft. Still, the series is quite watchable. The acting and chemistry among the ensemble cast are on point, and the finale is solid. </p>