TV Series - Hindi

Indian Soap Operas are famous for their glamour, lack of content, unrealitic drama, and kitchen politics. They are primarily focused on women fighting among themselves, for reasons nobody knows; while men stand next their spouses or mothers making all kinds of wierd faces. It is still a mystery what men do for their living and why they spend most of their time at home. More importantly, how the family is so rich without anyone having a real job.

Panchayat, luckily, is the Black Swan among the Indian TV. A story of an aspirant graduate who is preparing for MBA at the Indian Institutes of Management, a group of elite Indian Institutions. As happens to many aspirants, the man takes a side job as a government secretary. Work during the day, study during the night. But unfortunately, he is posted to a remote village called "Phulera" in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh, where things move at an extremely slow pace. Electricity is unreliable and roads barely exists. And then there is village politics.

Fustrated as he is, the show goes through authentic life of villagers and their issues, which may seem remote to urbanties, but are so real for the rural populations. How to enforce government policies when villagers' are against them. For example, limiting a family to two children may seem a good policy. But do you convince a man with five children that government is interfering in his personal choices.

Not all is bad for "Sachiv ji", as the man is referred to by the villagers. He apparantly has crush on the daughter of the "Pradhan", village's elected chief. Subtle romance and local politics, with small group of friends and enemies, keep "Sachiv Ji" entertained in the village. He has a chance to leave, but chooses against it.

Each episode caters to unique problems of Indian villages, and the show reflects them in its utmost raw form. Finally, a true Indian drama that world can peek into.