Gram Chikitsalay Review: Makers of Panchayat bring another slice-of-life gem set in the heartland

Gram Chikitsalay documents the struggles of healthcare in a North Indian village.

Gram Chikitsalay is a heartfelt, slice-of-life comedy that captures the quirks and struggles of a North Indian village through the eyes of an idealistic young doctor. With warmth, wit, and sincerity, it delivers laughter and emotion in equal measure.

A simple story that strikes a chord

What makes ‘Gram Chikitsalay’ work so well is how simple it is. The series at no point tries too hard to impress you with big twists or high drama. Instead, it lets the small, everyday moments breathe—and that’s what really sticks with you. You’ll find yourself chuckling at the silly banter, and by the end, maybe even wiping away a tear. Yes, there are comparisons to ‘Panchayat’—the rural setting, the outsider trying to make sense of it all—but ‘Gram Chikitsalay’ doesn’t feel like a copy. It has its own personality and rhythm. The village of Bhatkandi is full of lovable oddballs, and their interactions with the local primary health center form the heart of the story. At just five episodes of around 40 minutes each, it’s a light, easy watch that manages to balance humour with some pretty emotional moments.

A doctor's wake up call in a neglected village clinic

The story follows Dr. Prabhat Sinha (Amol Parashar), a fresh medical graduate and gold medalist who shocks everyone by choosing to work at a primary health center in a North Indian village instead of joining his dad’s hospital in Delhi. When he arrives, reality hits hard. The health center is falling apart, and the two main staffers—Phutani Ji (Anandeshwar Dwivedi), the compounder, and Govind (Akash Makhija), the ward boy—spend more time hanging out at a local quack’s clinic than actually doing their jobs. That quack, Chetak Kumar (Vinay Pathak), has the villagers eating out of his hand, even though he treats patients based on Google searches. The PHC, on the other hand, is barely functioning—fans don’t work, equipment is rusted, and medicines mysteriously disappear. Prabhat tries to clean things up and make the place work, only to realize that he’s up against more than just broken machines. The villagers don’t trust doctors in white coats—they trust familiarity. And when vaccine stock worth six lakhs goes missing, all fingers point at him. Slowly, Prabhat starts to understand that to really reach people, he’ll have to change his approach completely.

A vivid portrayal of rural India

What’s lovely about the show is how real it feels. The village setting isn’t just a backdrop—it’s alive with personality. The gossiping villagers, the stubborn local village politicians, the everyday chaos—they all come together to paint a picture that feels honest. Phutani Ji with his tobacco-eating habit, Ram Avtar with his tipsy wisdom, and the slightly clueless but sweet Govind—they’re all characters you feel like you’ve met before. There’s real attention to detail here, and the writing deserves a lot of credit. Arunabh Kumar, Deepak Kumar Mishra, Shreya Srivastava, and Vaibhav Suman have done a great job keeping the tone light while also slipping in some sharp commentary. Beneath the jokes, there are pointed observations about the state of rural healthcare and education—something that’s never heavy-handed but always present. The humour works because it comes from truth, not exaggeration.

Rooted performances

The performances really bring everything together. Amol Parashar, who we recently saw playing a completely different kind of character in ‘Kull,’ surprises here with a restrained, thoughtful performance. As Dr. Prabhat, he’s believable from the start—a guy who means well but doesn’t have all the answers. Vinay Pathak, in a smaller role as Chetak Kumar, makes the most of his screen time and adds just the right amount of quirky menace to the mix. But it’s the supporting cast that really shines. Anandeshwar Dwivedi as Phutani Ji is a standout—his expressions, his body language, even the way he mutters—it all feels so rooted and effortless. Akash Makhija as Govind also leaves a mark. There’s something very endearing about how earnestly clueless he is. These are not flashy performances, but they’re grounded, and that’s why they work.

A thoughtful blend of humour and heart 

For most of its run, ‘Gram Chikitsalay’ keeps things breezy with jokes, village politics, and oddball antics. But in the final episode, the tone shifts. It touches on mental health in a way that’s surprisingly moving and sensitive. It doesn’t feel out of place—it feels like the show earning the right to be taken seriously after winning your trust through laughter. Much like ‘Panchayat,’ it’s the characters that stay with you long after the final credits roll. You remember their quirks, their warmth, and their little victories. This isn’t a show that tries to dazzle with drama—it just wants to tell a good, honest story about a doctor, a village, and the quiet ways people change each other. And it succeeds. ‘Gram Chikitsalay’ is earthy, sincere, and thoroughly enjoyable.

Cast: Amol Parashar, Vinay Pathak, Anandeshwar Dwivedi, Akash Makhija, and Garima Vikrant Singh

Director: Rahul Pandey

Rating: 4/5

(‘Gram Chikitsalay’ is streaming on Prime Video)