On May 09, Amazon Prime Video released TVF’s new 5-episode show called ‘Gram Chikitsalay’, a slice-of-life comedy-drama starring Amol Parashar as Dr. Prabhat Sinha. What do I hate about the show? Well, it’s just five-episode long. The show is a well-balanced journey of comical as well as emotional moments. Its plot is set in a rural village, alienated by the modern medical facilities. But before I discuss more and take you through major spoilers, my review is, Gram Chikitsalay doesn’t have what it takes to become Panchayat.
What I mean is, it’s a decent show that doesn’t demand too much of your time. And even though Deepak Kumar Mishra, one of the creators of Panchayat, created it, it lacks something, but not too much.
So, you can give it a shot. And if you ask me, I rate it 4 out of 5, which is quite fair to be honest.
You will know why when you read my experience!
A Familiar Yet Fresh Premise
The show opens with the death of an old patient after the quack doctor injected him with his well-known booster. As the funeral progresses, the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in-charge MO, Dr. Prabhat Sinha (Amol Parashar), joins the plot. This healthcare centre, now overruled by corruption and staff’s lack of will to make it run, is now open again after a few years.
Dr. Prabhat, a city-bred, gold-medallist doctor, is an idealistic character who ditches his rich father’s hospital to do some good on his own by taking care of a village where healthcare isn’t too accessible.
But his goals face a hurdle, and the biggest one is this quack doctor ‘Chetak Kumar’ played by the great Vinay Pathak. The village folks, in the absence of real healthcare all these years, have now become dependent on quacks’ dubious cures over Dr. Prabhat’s stethoscope.
But Prabhat’s fight isn’t just about defeating the dubious doctor; there’s politics too, involving two local powerful politicians, adding some extra spice to the plot. As for the tearjerkers, Indu and her son’s story fills the gap.
But I won’t give you spoilers.
Why the Ending Felt Incomplete
Before streaming, I didn’t know there were only 5 episodes. Sadly, while the plot is interesting from the beginning, it takes around 3 episodes for you to get attached to the characters, but it ends so soon that the whole thing feels like an incomplete saga.
The five-episode run feels too short. Just as I was invested, the credits rolled, leaving me craving more of Bhatkandi’s world.
And given the plot, it doesn’t feel like there will be a Gram Chikitsalay season 2. But Panchayat has multiple seasons, so you never know. Maybe if this show gains enough traction, makers could jump into planning its expanded future.
My Gram Chikitsalay Review
As I said in the beginning, I found it worthy of a 4-star due to the potential it had. The show had a great supporting cast, like Akash Makhija, Garima Vikrant Singh, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, and Anandeshwar Dwivedi.
Now here’s the thing, I mentioned Panchayat quite a few times, you know why there’s a familiarity between the show? Because Deepak Kumar Mishra created the Gram Chikitsalay. Yeah, one of the creators of the Panchayat show.
Deepak is certainly a genius at picking the right cast as well as threading the right story. His ability to display accurate impressions of regional cultures and, in some scenarios, issues in a comical manner is impressive.
His shows also display great command over different local dialects. Like in Gram Chikitsalay, you can hear the touch of rural Hindi that is often spoken in villages of Uttar Pradesh or Jharkhand.
And I find such details, such accuracy, quite impressive. But I am clearly not the only one. Therefore, the show has a 7.3 IMDB rating.
Critics’ reviews are also bombarding the show with love. So let’s see if all that gets convincing enough for creators to expand the storyline.
Wondering Where can You watch Gram Chikitsalay?
Well, it’s on Amazon Prime Video. If you’re from India, you probably will have the access already if you have the subscription. But if you’re outside, don’t forget to check for availability in your local Prime catalog as streaming rights can impact whether it’s available in your country or not.
Why Watch Gram Chikitsalay?
- For Relatable Humor: The banter between Dr. Prabhat and Ram Autar is both funny and grounded.
- Emotional Depth: Stories like Indu’s add a touching layer to the comedy.
- Cultural Nuances: Deepak Kumar Mishra’s knack for regional authenticity shines.
- Short and Sweet: At 5 episodes, it’s a quick, engaging binge.
Anyway, that’s all for now, I am writing this one at 3:00 AM to give you guys a fresh experience converted into words. Hope you enjoy the show.
Subscribe to CineCinnati for more of my reviews delivered straight to your inbox. I will see you soon!
