Neeraj Ghaywan criticises TVF's Panchayat for featuring 'only upper-caste names'
Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan has questioned the authenticity of TVF's Panchayat over its portrayal of village life. Here's what he said and why his remarks have sparked discussion.
Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan has criticised TVF’s hit web series Panchayat, arguing that it cannot be considered an authentic portrayal of rural India if it features only upper-caste names. Speaking during a conversation with Yuvaa, the director questioned the show’s representation of caste and said its depiction of village life leaves out key sections of society.
Ghaywan said his criticism stems from the influence and responsibility carried by TVF, whose productions have earned widespread acclaim. Referring specifically to Panchayat, he said, “That you call this celebrated TV show of yours, Panchayat, which everybody thinks is the most authentic representation of villages. No, it isn’t. You cannot create an entire village where only upper-caste names exist.”
Why did Neeraj Ghaywan criticise TVF?
During the discussion, Ghaywan acknowledged that TVF has produced several well-made shows but said that was precisely why he expected more from the creators. He pointed out that many of the company’s founders and creators come from IIT backgrounds and argued that they should be more mindful of representation in the stories they tell.
He claimed that TVF’s shows have consistently featured upper-caste characters while overlooking lower-caste and Muslim identities. According to Ghaywan, creators have a responsibility to reflect the diversity of the communities they portray, particularly when their work is viewed as realistic.
What did he say about Panchayat?
Using Panchayat as an example, Ghaywan challenged the show's reputation as one of the most authentic depictions of village life in India. He argued that a rural setting cannot accurately reflect reality if it excludes lower-caste and Muslim characters, saying such omissions shape an incomplete picture of Indian villages.
Panchayat, which streams on Amazon Prime Video, premiered during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 and quickly became one of the country's most popular web series. Starring Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta and Raghubir Yadav, the show has completed four seasons and remains one of TVF’s biggest successes.
What is Neeraj Ghaywan working on?
Ghaywan began his filmmaking career as an assistant director to Anurag Kashyap on Gangs of Wasseypur and Ugly before making his directorial debut with Masaan in 2015. The film won two awards at the Cannes Film Festival and established him as one of India’s leading filmmakers.
His latest film, Homebound (2025), explored inequality and the caste divide in India, themes that also informed his recent comments on Panchayat. While the film received positive reviews, it earned less than Rs 5 crore at the box office despite a reported budget of more than Rs 25 crore.
Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan has criticised TVF’s hit web series Panchayat, arguing that it cannot be considered an authentic portrayal of rural India if it features only upper-caste names. Speaking during a conversation with Yuvaa, the director questioned the show’s representation of caste and said its depiction of village life leaves out key sections of society.
Ghaywan said his criticism stems from the influence and responsibility carried by TVF, whose productions have earned widespread acclaim. Referring specifically to Panchayat, he said, “That you call this celebrated TV show of yours, Panchayat, which everybody thinks is the most authentic representation of villages. No, it isn’t. You cannot create an entire village where only upper-caste names exist.”
Why did Neeraj Ghaywan criticise TVF?
During the discussion, Ghaywan acknowledged that TVF has produced several well-made shows but said that was precisely why he expected more from the creators. He pointed out that many of the company’s founders and creators come from IIT backgrounds and argued that they should be more mindful of representation in the stories they tell.
He claimed that TVF’s shows have consistently featured upper-caste characters while overlooking lower-caste and Muslim identities. According to Ghaywan, creators have a responsibility to reflect the diversity of the communities they portray, particularly when their work is viewed as realistic.
What did he say about Panchayat?
Using Panchayat as an example, Ghaywan challenged the show's reputation as one of the most authentic depictions of village life in India. He argued that a rural setting cannot accurately reflect reality if it excludes lower-caste and Muslim characters, saying such omissions shape an incomplete picture of Indian villages.
Panchayat, which streams on Amazon Prime Video, premiered during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 and quickly became one of the country's most popular web series. Starring Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta and Raghubir Yadav, the show has completed four seasons and remains one of TVF’s biggest successes.
What is Neeraj Ghaywan working on?
Ghaywan began his filmmaking career as an assistant director to Anurag Kashyap on Gangs of Wasseypur and Ugly before making his directorial debut with Masaan in 2015. The film won two awards at the Cannes Film Festival and established him as one of India’s leading filmmakers.
His latest film, Homebound (2025), explored inequality and the caste divide in India, themes that also informed his recent comments on Panchayat. While the film received positive reviews, it earned less than Rs 5 crore at the box office despite a reported budget of more than Rs 25 crore.
