Prepare to be proven wrong if you thought Panchayat 2 would be a typical light-hearted comedy that has been seen on Indian television for decades. The second season of this slice-of-life dramedy starring Jitendra Kumar premiered on Wednesday, May 18. This time, in addition to providing laughs, the show also challenges you to think, reflect, and, by the end, hold back your tears. It’s not a great show, but it’s certainly entertaining. Panchayat 2 becomes a must-see when you consider the solid performances of its cast and the crisp writing.

The first season of Panchayat followed Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar), who took an unwelcome job as a Panchayat secretary in the middle of nowhere—specifically, in Phulera, a remote village in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. The second season shows how Abhishek, aka Sachiv Ji, has adjusted to his new role in Phulera and formed bonds with the residents, particularly with the village’s former Pradhan (Raghubir Yadav), his wife and the current Pradhan (Neena Gupta), and the other two office-bearers (played by Faisal Malik and Chandan Roy).

The show’s premise is simple enough: how a city boy who has never spent time in a village adjusts to a new life and discovers that some issues are universal over time. The second season had the potential to be repetitive, but Panchayat deftly avoids this. It demonstrates character and story development, allowing Abhishek to discover new aspects of Phulera and its inhabitants. It also avoids a trope that has been used in many shows and films set in rural India: portraying it as an exotic freak show to be laughed at or ridiculed. The Indian village is depicted by Panchayat as a real place with real people. Yes, humour exists, but only in certain circumstances.

Another positive aspect of Panchayat is that it is not strictly a comedy. There is no laugh track or slapstick humour; only mild situational comedy is featured. It will make you laugh at times and keep you entertained. Its strength, like that of most successful slice-of-life shows over the years (see Wagle Ki Duniya, Ye Jo Hai Zindagi, and even Gullak), lies in presenting an issue or a problem in a straightforward manner. It tackles local politics, rivalries, and even more universal issues like standing up for your friends. There is no melodrama, however. Monologues are absent. By definition, the show is a juicy slice of life.

Jitendra Kumar is, of course, the show’s star and he carries it on his back quite ably. The actor has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, evident by his ability to hold his own against the likes of veterans like Raghubir Yadav and Neena Gupta. Chandan Roy’s Vikas and Faisal Malik’s Prahlad breathe new life into the show with their pitch-perfect acts.

It was criminal to give the amazing Neena Gupta such limited screen time as Manju Devi – every time she is on screen, she lords over everyone. In trying to infuse drama, it does at times give in to the temptation of using tired tropes like egoistic foul-mouthed politicians. It could do with fewer jokes about fasting women – why amplify it with needless humour in such a clean show?

Panchayat 2 is a worthy second season of an already good show. To say that it improves upon the first season wouldn’t be an exaggeration. It makes you laugh, it almost makes you cry, and all this while, you can feel you have seen these people and these stories somewhere. That relatability is its USP and what truly keeps the viewer engaged till the end.

Season 2 of the Panchayat series

Deepak Kumar Mishra is the director.

Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Faisal Malik, Biswapati Sarkar, Chandan Roy, and Sanvika Sharma are among the cast members.