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Panchayat season 4 review: Satire deepens but the soul starts to flicker

Panchayat season 4 deepens its political narrative, losing some of its earlier charm but maintaining key character moments and emotional arcs.

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Panchayat Season 4

Panchayat Season 4, now streaming on Prime Video, continues its journey through the dusty lanes of Phulera village, bringing back the familiar faces and their interwoven dynamics. But as the political games grow more intense, the show’s original warmth and charm seem to fade — leaving a series that still entertains but lacks the emotional punch of its earlier seasons.

Panchayat humour still survives, but in fragments

Though the heart of Panchayat has always rested in its rustic humour and subtle emotional moments, season 4 continues a tonal shift that began in its predecessor. Jitendra Kumar’s Sachiv Ji, Raghubir Yadav’s Pradhan Ji, and the ensemble retain their charm, but the narrative leans more into political turf wars than simple village life.

There are moments of relief — the laugh shared by Prahlad Cha (Faisal Malik), the unexpected “Aye sasur!” in front of an actual father-in-law, and Pradhan Ji’s legendary group text “Hi” that signals their drunken rants — all keep the spirit alive. But these are few and scattered, like laughter echoing in a tense room.

Dirty politics, quirky symbols, and a dash of drama

Politics has become the beating heart of season 4. The battle between the lauki (ruling party) and pressure cooker (opposition) symbols mirrors the struggle for power between Manju Devi’s camp and Kranti Devi’s rising influence. The show dives into tactics involving everything from samosa diplomacy to laddoo logic — showcasing how even food turns into political currency.

A harsh attack on Khushboo, a pregnant woman, marks a sharp turn in the show’s political storytelling, exposing the kind of calculated character assassinations that rural politics often witnesses.

Emotional layers and side characters come alive

Despite the heavier tone, Panchayat gives some of its secondary characters more meaningful arcs. Opposition members Binod and Madhav are fleshed out beyond their comic roles. Meanwhile, Neena Gupta’s Manju Devi attempts to lure rivals with sweet seviyan and warm hospitality, reflecting the layered strategies of village politics.

The story also touches upon grief — Faisal Malik’s Prahlad Cha continues to carry the emotional weight of his son’s loss in season two, often using humour as a coping tool. These character moments balance the rising political drama.

Abhishek and Rinky: love lingers, but choices loom

With Abhishek and Rinky finally admitting their feelings, season 4 offers a personal subplot that’s been building over three seasons. But with Abhishek’s CAT results on the horizon and political uncertainty ahead, their relationship enters a delicate phase. Their bond, tender yet restrained, mirrors the village’s own state — torn between ambition and belonging.

Verdict: should you watch Panchayat season 4?

For long-time fans, season 4 is a continuation worth following, especially with its setup for a potential fifth season. But new viewers might find the slower pace and heavier politics a departure from what made Panchayat special. It still entertains, but the charm no longer flows as effortlessly.

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Border 2 box office collection day 12 crosses Rs 286 crore, eyes Rs 300 crore milestone

Border 2 box office collection reaches Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days, putting the Sunny Deol-led film close to the Rs 300 crore milestone.

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Sunny Deol in Border 2

Sunny Deol’s Border 2 continues its impressive run at the domestic box office, edging closer to the Rs 300 crore mark by the end of its second week. The war drama, which hit theatres on January 23, has shown consistent collections since its release.

On its second Tuesday, the film earned an estimated Rs 5.75 crore, taking its total earnings to Rs 286.75 crore after 12 days.

Border 2 box office performance so far

The film matched its Monday earnings on February 3, adding Rs 5.75 crore to its tally. With this, Border 2 has managed to hold firm on weekdays, a sign of sustained audience interest.

The film delivered a robust opening week, collecting Rs 224.25 crore, supported by the extended Republic Day holiday period.

Second weekend boosts collections

The second weekend provided another lift to the film’s box office numbers. Friday saw collections of Rs 10.75 crore, followed by Rs 17.75 crore on Saturday. Sunday emerged as the strongest day of the weekend, contributing Rs 22.5 crore to the total.

Monday, which coincided with Republic Day, turned out to be the film’s highest single-day performer so far, with earnings touching Rs 59 crore.

With its current pace, Border 2 has already surpassed the opening weekend figures of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar.

Border 2 review

In a review, film critic Saibal Chatterjee noted that Border 2 succeeds in highlighting the courage of soldiers while also touching upon their emotional vulnerabilities. The film explores themes of separation, loss, fear, and hope, presenting moments of heroism amid personal struggles.

About the film

Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 features an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty. Set against the backdrop of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the film is positioned as a spiritual successor to the 1997 classic Border.

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Why Dhurandhar on Netflix runs shorter than its original theatrical cut

Dhurandhar’s Netflix release sparked confusion over its shorter runtime. The difference is linked to muted dialogue and an updated theatrical cut.

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Dhurandhar

Dhurandhar has finally made its much-awaited debut on Netflix, just days after the Ranveer Singh-starrer completed a blockbuster theatrical run across India. While the film crossed Rs 1,000 crore domestically and went past Rs 1,300 crore worldwide, its OTT release has triggered confusion and criticism over its shorter runtime.

Several viewers took to social media early Friday, claiming that a “censored” version of Dhurandhar was streaming on Netflix. The runtime displayed on the platform is 3 hours and 25 minutes, nearly nine minutes shorter than the film’s originally reported duration of 3 hours and 34 minutes.

What caused the runtime difference

The confusion stems from changes made after the film’s initial theatrical release. According to the revised censor certificate, Dhurandhar now has an approved runtime of 3 hours 28 minutes and 56 seconds. This updated version replaced the earlier cut in cinemas starting January 1.

The revision followed directions to mute two specific words and one dialogue referring to the Baloch community. These changes were implemented without removing scenes, resulting in a marginally shorter runtime.

What viewers noticed on Netflix

Audiences streaming the film on Netflix observed muted portions during a scene involving Sanjay Dutt’s character, SP Chaudhary Aslam. In the original version, the dialogue included a direct reference to a former Baloch police partner. In the revised cut now available on Netflix, those references are muted, while English subtitles offer a generalised translation without naming the community.

Some viewers also pointed out that the film appears to play slightly faster on the platform, contributing to the perception that content had been trimmed.

Is Netflix streaming a censored cut

Industry insiders have clarified that Netflix is carrying the final theatrical version approved by the authorities. As an OTT distributor, the platform uploads films exactly as provided by the producers. The version streaming online is the same revised cut that has been screening in theatres since January.

Importantly, the film’s intense and graphic depiction of violence remains unchanged in the OTT version.

In short, Dhurandhar on Netflix is not a specially edited or censored cut for streaming. It is the updated theatrical version, adjusted for muted dialogue and presented with a slightly faster frame rate.

Following its OTT release, audiences can now look ahead to the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, scheduled for release on March 19, 2026.

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Border 2 box office collection day 1 crosses Rs 30 crore

Border 2 opens to Rs 30 crore on day one, becoming the biggest opener for Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh.

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Sunny Deol in Border 2

Border 2 has made an impressive start at the Indian box office, collecting Rs 30 crore on its opening day. The war drama, headlined by Sunny Deol along with Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh, opened to largely positive audience and critical response.

According to industry tracking data, the film recorded an overall occupancy of 32.1 per cent on day one. Night shows contributed the highest footfall, indicating strong word-of-mouth towards the end of the day.

Strong show count and urban traction

Border 2 was screened in nearly 6,000 shows across the country on its opening day. Major centres reported heavy traction, with over 1,000 shows in Mumbai and more than 1,500 shows across the Delhi-NCR region. Trade sources noted that urban circuits played a key role in pushing the film past the Rs 30 crore mark.

The opening performance places Border 2 ahead of Dhurandhar, which collected Rs 28 crore on its first day despite having a similar nationwide show count. Dhurandhar later saw consistent growth over its opening weekend, a trend that Border 2 is also expected to follow.

Career-best opening for key cast members

Border 2 has emerged as the biggest opening-day film in the careers of Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh. For Varun Dhawan, the film marks his first box office success since Bhediya in 2023. Ahan Shetty, who made his debut with Tadap in 2021, has registered his first theatrical hit with the war drama.

For Sunny Deol, however, Border 2 does not surpass the opening records of Gadar 2, which remains his highest-grossing film with a worldwide collection of Rs 686 crore.

Dhurandhar sees slowdown after Border 2 release

Meanwhile, Dhurandhar’s box office run has slowed following the release of Border 2. The film reportedly earned under Rs 1 crore for the first time in nearly 50 days, reflecting the impact of the new release.

Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by JP Dutta and Nidhi Dutta, Border 2 also features Sonam Bajwa and Mona Singh in prominent roles.

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