
BOTTOM LINE
A Near-Copy of Panchayat
PLATFORM
Amazon Prime Video
Run Time
8 Episodes, Approx. 4.5 Hours.
What Is the show Sivarapalli About?
Shyam, a Hyderabadi engineering graduate, reluctantly takes up a job as the Panchayat Secretary in Sivarapalli, a remote village in Telangana. Initially disheartened by the posting, he slowly adapts to the quirks of rural life. Facing many challenges and hilarious misadventures, he forges a love-hate relationship with the sarpanch Suseela, her husband Sudhakar and his subordinates.
Performances
Rag Mayur, who made a mark recently with Veeranjaneyulu Vihara Yatra, is refreshingly assured in a lead role as an urban youngster who finds his way in a sleepy village. He mirrors the frustration and mood swings of the protagonists efficiently and quietly captures his transformation. Sunny Palle and (director) Uday Gurrala’s easy-going presence is a huge boost to the show.
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The other key characters – played by the Balagam couple Muralidhar Goud (as the sarpanch’s husband) and Roopa Laxmi (as the sarpanch), come alive well with their impressive dialogue delivery and how they conduct themselves in the quieter, not-so-crucial moments of the story too. Pavani Karanam, seen only in the final sequence, is expected to have a larger prominence in the next season.
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Analysis
Panchayat, TVF’s popular Hindi show that struck a chord with many, after getting its Tamil remake Thalaivettiyaan Paalayam recently, is reaching new shores now with its Telugu version – Sivarapalli, helmed by Bhaskhar Maurya (who directed the Telugu film Muthayya earlier). It stars Rag Mayur, Sunny Palle, Muralidhar Goud, Roopa Laxmi and Uday Gurrala in key roles.
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Sivarapalli is a near-frame-to-frame remake of Panchayat with minor tweaks. A refreshing cast, fine performances, catchy dialogue, and uncluttered execution hold it together. The show’s aims are clear – it only wants to be a ‘safe’ replica of the original, retaining a similar unhurried and laidback treatment in a fictitious setting. Though engaging, the absence of originality dents its impact.
The plot points of Sivarapalli remain unchanged – a city-based engineer gets hold of a government job (as a panchayat secretary) and hesitatingly accepts a position at a small, sleepy village. While his heart still beats for a dream life in the US, he must take stock of local realities in a new role. After a mixed start, the opportunity gives him a reality check, and he slowly warms up to it.
The leisurely pacing (minus the stock characters and stereotypes one encounters in village dramas) laced with humour, even while discussing pressing social issues, is its USP. It touches upon girl education, superstitions, gender inequality, corruption within the system, and poverty in the village without heightening its tone. The protagonist refreshingly isn’t a messiah or a saviour.
Even when telling a fictional story, Sivarapalli takes a realistic approach. It captures the ordinariness of village life, where nothing much happens and it only takes a small mistake for hell to break loose. Those who’ve watched multiple seasons of Panchayat and its Tamil remake may likely get impatient with Sivarapalli initially—the adaptation lacks the spine to have its own voice.
It’s almost as if the director Bhaskhar Maurya was hand-tied to execute it without any major changes in terms of writing, treatment and visual aesthetics. Yet, the casting is a major win and the lead actors are hugely responsible for bringing a new, raw flavour to the show with their rooted, happy-go-lucky performances, even within the limitations of the original.
While not changing the core plot, it would’ve been interesting if the creators honestly attempted to offer a glimpse of life in rural Telangana with references to local issues and traditions. It’s increasingly becoming strange to see Telugu shows and films set in fictional villages and slightly disappointing that entertainment remains the priority over reflecting realities on the screen.
Sivarapalli is a comfy, inoffensive rural drama and the set of audiences that haven’t watched Panchayat yet may be able to appreciate it better.
Music and Other Departments?
Sinjith Yerramilli, the composer behind indie films like Sopathulu, and Aarambham, provides a unique flavour to the show with his music, that never dominates the proceedings and blends with its ambience organically. The visuals – while being familiar remain attractive and truly come alive through Vasu Pandem’s cinematography. The dialogues are generally well-written and the narrative structure doesn’t have much difference in comparison to Panchayat.
Highlights?
Cast and performances
Neat execution, treatment and storytelling
Good music, cinematography
Drawbacks?
Nothing new for Panchayat fans
No attempt to capture local realities in Telangana
Convenient resolution of social issues
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, to some extent.
Will You Recommend It?
Only if you haven’t watched Panchayat yet
Sivarapalli Panchayat Remake Review by M9