Simple yet full of heart, Panchayat tells the story of an engineering graduate dissatisfied with his appointment as the Secretary of a rural North Indian village's local governance body. He begins studying for exams to commence management studies and escape his predicament but must simultaneously navigate relationships with the village chieftain and his assistants as well as deal with the complaints and grievances of the populace.

Like many of TVF's productions, Panchayat nails its setting brilliantly. It is able to capture the sense of familial belonging so characteristic of small remote villages while also highlighting the bureaucratic barriers, political realities, financial challenges, petty conflicts, superstitious mindsets, and conservative outlooks. One can dispute the accuracy of the portrayal but the very grounded nature of the story and the vividity with which the scenes are shot and realized are essential features contributing to the show's memorability. The acting from the entire cast is effective, though special praise is due to Raghubir Yadav and Neena Gupta who excelled in their roles as the village chieftain couple.

Where the show falls short however is the lack of focus given to the people of the village as a means to put the obstacles and difficulties prevalent in rural India in the spotlight. This is because business in the panchayat office is largely glossed over and instead the audience only views notable events impacting the self-centred protagonist. Some of the comedic elements feel overly exaggerated, such as in the instances of the monitor theft or passport photo-taking, and the lead character's constant irritation and annoyance can get rather grating.

Panchayat is nonetheless a wholesome feel-good tale that may develop to something greater with coming seasons. It might however be hard to appreciate for an international audience unfamiliar with the demographics of urban and rural India. But for those who're keen to learn about those aspects or in general enjoy a well-crafted heartfelt story and setting, it should make for a rewarding watch.