Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan has criticised the popular TVF web series Panchayat, arguing that it cannot be treated as a fully authentic representation of rural India if it only includes upper-caste names. Speaking in a conversation with Yuvaa, he questioned how the show depicts village life and said it excludes important sections of society.
Ghaywan explained that his criticism is tied to the influence and responsibility of TVF, whose content is widely appreciated. Referring specifically to Panchayat, he said the show is often seen as a realistic portrayal of villages, but in his view that is not accurate because it does not show caste diversity.
During the discussion, he acknowledged that TVF has made well-received shows, but said this made the lack of representation more significant. He noted that many creators associated with the platform come from IIT backgrounds and suggested they should be more aware of social diversity in their storytelling.
He further claimed that TVF’s productions repeatedly focus on upper-caste characters while leaving out lower-caste and Muslim identities. According to him, creators have a responsibility to reflect the full social composition of the communities they depict, especially when their work is perceived as realistic.
Using Panchayat as an example, he argued that a village story feels incomplete if it does not include lower-caste and Muslim characters, as this shapes an incomplete picture of rural India.
Panchayat, streaming on Amazon Prime Video, launched in 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdown and became one of the platform’s most popular shows. It stars Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, and Raghubir Yadav, and has completed four seasons as one of TVF’s biggest successes.
Neeraj Ghaywan began his career as an assistant director to Anurag Kashyap on films like Gangs of Wasseypur and Ugly, before directing his debut film Masaan in 2015, which won recognition at the Cannes Film Festival and established him as a prominent Indian filmmaker.
His recent film Homebound (2025) focused on inequality and caste issues in India, themes that align with his latest comments on Panchayat. The film was critically appreciated but earned under ₹5 crore at the box office despite a reported budget of over ₹25 crore.
