The World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit, or WAVES, kicked off in Mumbai on May 1, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the event. On the third day, Saturday, May 3, several notable figures attended, including Deepak Kumar Mishra, director of the hit Amazon Prime series “Panchayat.” During a session titled “Making of Panchayat: Grassroot Storytelling on Amazon Prime,” Mishra shared his thoughts on creating a Village Cinematic Universe (VCU) inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) model. The session was attended by other key members of the “Panchayat” team, including writer Chandan Kumar and actors Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, and Sunita Rajwar.
Building a Village Cinematic Universe
Mishra expressed his openness to the idea of developing a VCU, where various productions centered around rural themes could interconnect. He drew parallels between this concept and the MCU, suggesting that just as the MCU has successfully created a vast, interconnected universe of superhero stories, a similar approach could work for rural narratives. Although the “Panchayat” team hadn’t initially planned to create a shared universe when they began working on the series, Mishra welcomed the possibility, envisioning a universe where stories could be both interdependent and standalone.
Release of Panchayat Season 4
During the WAVES Summit, the team also released a teaser for the fourth season of “Panchayat,” which is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on July 2. The anticipation for the new season is high, given the success of the previous installments and the engaging storytelling that has captivated audiences.
The event highlighted the growing interest in content that reflects rural India and the potential for creating expansive, interconnected narratives around such themes. As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, initiatives like the VCU could play a significant role in shaping the future of storytelling in India.