Gram Chikitsalay

.. at all. I can't say this enough because anyone who has watched that is certainly going to compare Gram Chikitsalaya with it on some level and they'll end up extremely disappointed.

Gram Chikitsalaya is far more serious, not meant to be as wholesome or even as simple as Panchayat. It is slightly less cheerful and complex. And most of all, it is slow. Agter having watched 5 episodes, I'm not sure if I can identify its genre. In fact, some issues that were raised in earlier episodes are still unresolved, so it's not a "drama of the episode" kind of series either.

It was only after the fifth episode that I could tell that this whole time they were just setting it up. It's too early to tell if this is a good one or not, and that's already saying something.

It may not be compulsory for a series to get you hooked early enough. After all, TVF has earned our trust enough that we could hang on for a few more episodes.

All that said, there's still potential, and once it finds its ground, I'm sure this will be great in its own way.

At first glance, this series felt like pure entertainment - quirky characters, sharp wit, and just the right amount of chaos to make you binge three episodes without noticing the time. It was fun, even silly at times, and I honestly thought it would stay in that lane. But then, it did something rare: it shifted gears, and it did it perfectly.

Somewhere between the laughs and drama, the show took a hard turn into something real. It started tackling a very specific, very necessary aspect of our society - all through the lens of medicine. It wasn't preachy or overly sentimental. Instead, it exposed how the healthcare system fails people - not in broad, abstract ways, but in detailed, painfully accurate terms. It showed what doctors really face behind closed doors, what patients are forced to endure, and how policies, biases, and broken systems shape real lives.

Coming from TVF, with village background, Gram Chikitsalaya is bound to be compared with Panchayat. However, it is mediocre at best and not comparable to Panchayat.

1. Characters: The actors were average and left no memorable impression.

2. Story: Unrealistic. An MBBS topper leaving his father's city hospital to join a village PHC to serve the underprivileged is plausible. However, despite free (Re. 1) government service, no villagers even trying it once is absurd.

3. Boring and stretched: Even with only five episodes, it felt boring. The story of the one patient was unnecessarily stretched.

Panchayat, conversely, is excellent, with a great story, characters, actors, and natural entertainment value.

This series is based on the life of a medical officer posted in a remote village where medical services are rarely available. It has a theme similar to the popular series Panchayat, where a young officer goes to a remote village to get a job. However, the prime difference between these two series is that in the case of Panchayat, the officer is kinda forced to accept his job because of misguided priorities, but in Gram Chikitsalay, the officer takes up the position voluntarily. This is kind of an antithesis to most of the audience, as people do not expect to take up jobs in remote places like this out of sheer will.

But to be honest, this series tries to spin up a story about rural life and manages to tell an interesting tale. This makes me recommend this series for at least one time watch.

TVF delivers again. Lead actor is a find. Panchayat reimagined in a beautiful way and holds its own despite the inevitable comparisons it will garner.

I'm stoked at the quality of OTT content that TVF is delivering. And can't wait to watch the rest of the episodes. Loved the simplicity and the theme with a positive message that is sure to resonate with the audience.

Thank you, TVF and the makers of Panchayat who have kept high standards with script, dialog, direction and a wonderful cast. Each character is uniquely gifted and delivers to delight and cherish.

I look forward to many more of this from TVF.