{{Short description|Tragic romance in Punjabi literature}} {{Use British English|date=October 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{italic title}} {{Infobox folk tale | Folk_Tale_Name = Mirza Sahiban<br>مرزا صاحباں<br>ਮਿਰਜ਼ਾ ਸਾਹਿਬਾਂ | image = Photograph of a fresco illustrating Mirza being killed by Sahiba’s brothers (Mirza Sahiban folktale) at Palkiana Sahib near Tarn Taran, taken in 1971.jpg | Image_Caption = Photograph of a fresco illustrating Mirza being killed by Sahiban’s brothers, artwork located at Palkiana Sahib near Tarn Taran, taken in 1971 | AKA = Qissa Mirza Sahiban | Region = Punjab | Mythology = Punjabi folklore | Origin_Date = pre-17th century | Published_In = 1600s | Related = {{Hlist|Heer Ranjha|Sohni Mahiwal|Sassui Punnhun}} }} {{Punjabi folklore}} thumb|Mirza and Sahiban under the tree
'''''Mirza Sahiban'''''{{efn|{{langx|pa|{{Nastaliq|مرزا صاحباں}}}}, {{lang|pa|ਮਿਰਜ਼ਾ ਸਾਹਿਬਾਂ}}; ''{{IAST|mirzā sāhibāṁ}}''}} ({{IPA|pa|mɪɾzaː saːɦɪbãː|lang}}) also spelled as "'''''Mirza Sahiba'''"'' ({{IPA|pa|mɪɾzaː saːɦɪbãː|lang}}) is a classical Punjabi folk tragedy. The tragedy follows the romance between two youths, belonging to chieftain families of their respective clans, their elopement and eventual demise.
It is regarded as one of the four popular tragic romances of the Punjab. The other three are ''Heer Ranjha'', ''Sohni Mahiwal'' and ''Sassi Punnun''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1156243|author=Jamal Shahid|date=11 January 2015|title=A beloved folk story comes to life|newspaper=Dawn newspaper|access-date=8 November 2020}}</ref><ref name="scroll">{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/reel/816380/before-mirzya-mirza-and-sahiban-have-died-over-and-over-again-for-their-love|title=Before 'Mirzya', Mirza and Sahiban have died over and over again for their love (numerous versions of the legend exist, including productions in Punjabi on both sides of the border)|url-status=dead|author=Karan Bali|date=13 September 2016|website=Scroll.in website|access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://punjabiworld.com/Creative-Punjab/Legends-of-Punjab/love-legends-of-punjab.html|title=Love Legends in History of Punjab|date=20 April 2007|publisher=Punjabi World website|access-date=26 March 2026|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322201246/http://punjabiworld.com/Creative-Punjab/Legends-of-Punjab/love-legends-of-punjab.html|archive-date=22 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/Sahibaan-remains-unheard/article15463349.ece|title=Sahibaan remains unheard|newspaper=The Hindu newspaper|author=Hari Narayan|url-status=dead|date=12 October 2016|access-date=26 March 2026|archive-date=20 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120201726/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/Sahibaan-remains-unheard/article15463349.ece}}</ref>
== Synopsis == The story was first recorded in literary form by Pilu, a poet who lived during the 17th century in Punjab.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Banga |first=Indu|title=Precolonial and Colonial Punjab: Society, Economy, Politics, and Culture: Essays for Indu Banga|publisher=Manohar |year=2005|isbn=9788173046544|editor-last=Grewal |editor-first=Reeta|pages=171|chapter=Appendix - The Story of Mirza and Sahiban in Pilu's Narrative|editor-last2=Pall|editor-first2=Sheena}}</ref> Mirza and Sahiban were lovers who lived in Khewa, a town in Jhang which was Sahiban's ancestral village. Mirza was the son of Banjal or Wanjhal, a Kharal chief of Danabad while Sahiban was the daughter of Khiva Khan of the Sials.<ref name=":2" /> thumb|Depiction of the climax scene of the legendary Punjabi love ballad and folktale of Mirza and Sahiban (Mirza Sahiban), woodblock print, Amritsar or Lahore, circa late 19th century
Both Mirza and Sahiban ran away to marry against Sahiban's parents' wishes. While eloping, Mirza stopped under a jand tree, where he rested for a while and fell asleep. Sahiban did not want to begin her new life through her brothers' bloodshed. She decided to break all the arrows of Mirza, thinking she will beg her brothers for their acceptance so that nobody would get hurt. As Sahiban's brothers were approaching, Mirza woke up to discover that his arrows were broken, and was killed by Sahiban's brothers. Sahiban could not bear this loss and chose to end her own life by stabbing herself with an arrow.
==Adaptations== There have been various adaptations of the folk tale: * ''Mirza Sahiban'', a 1929 Indian silent film by Bhagwati Prasad Mishra.<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen1999">{{cite book|last1=Rajadhyaksha|first1=Ashish|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofi0000raja|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema|last2=Willemen|first2=Paul|publisher=British Film Institute|year=1999|isbn=9780851706696}}</ref> *''Mirza Sahiban'', a 1933 Indian Hindi-language film by Nagendra Majumdar starring Khurshid Begum and Kamlabai Gokhale.<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen1999" /> *''Ishq-e-Punajab (Mirza Sahiban)'', a 1935 Indian Punjabi-language film by Nagendra Majumdar starring Khurshid Begum. *''Mirza Sahiban'', a 1939 Indian Punjabi-language film by D. N. Madhok starring Zubeida.<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen1999" /> *''Mirza Sahiban'', a 1947<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQEdR8pASKo |title=Mirza Sahiban {HD} - Nurjehan - Tilok Kapoor - Old Romantic Hindi Full Movie - (With Eng Subtitles) |date=2016-03-03 |last=Shemaroo|access-date=2026-01-21|via=YouTube}}</ref> Indian Hindi-language romantic-drama film by K. Amarnath starring Noor Jehan and Trilok Kapoor<ref name="scroll" /> *''Mirza Sahiban'', a 1956 Pakistani Punjabi film starring Musarrat Nazir and Sudhir<ref name="scroll" /> *''Mirza Sahiban (1957 film)'', a 1957 Indian Hindi-language romance film by Ravi Kapoor starring Shyama and Shammi Kapoor.<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen1999" /> * ''Mirza Jat'', a 1967 Pakistani Punjabi film starring Firdous and Ejaz Durrani.<ref name=scroll/> * ''Mirza Jat'', a 1982 Pakistani Punjabi film starring Shahid Hameed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citwf.com/film225586.htm|url-status=dead|title=Mirza Jat (1982 film) - cast and crew|website= Complete Index To World Film (CITWF) website|access-date=26 March 2026|archive-date=1 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601214811/http://www.citwf.com/film225586.htm}}</ref> *''Mirza Jatt'', a 1992 Indian Punjabi-language romance film by Ravinder Ravi starring Gugu Gill and Manjeet Kullar.<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen1999" /> *"Mirza Sahiba" (2000) is a song and music video<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI1g_UgTifo |title=Mirza Sahiba Full Song Harbhajan Mann {{!}} la la la Album |date=2011-12-02 |last=T-Series |access-date=2026-01-21 |via=YouTube}}</ref> by singer Harbhajan Mann, depicting the tragedy of Mirza Sahiba.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rice |first=Punita |date=2025-07-18 |title=Mirza Sahiba: Inspiration for The River’s Daughter by Punita Rice |url=https://www.punitarice.com/mirza-sahiba-story-inspiration/ |access-date=2026-01-21 |website=Punita Rice |language=en-US}}</ref> * ''Hero Hitler in Love'', a 2011 Indian Punjabi-language film by Babbu Maan, starring Maan and Mouni Roy. It is a modern retelling with a twist. * ''Mirza – The Untold Story'', a 2012 Indian Punjabi-language film directed by Baljit Singh Deo starring Gippy Grewal and Mandy Takhar. It is a modern rendition of Mirza and Sahiban story, with the title song sung by Arif Lohar, son of Alam Lohar.<ref name=scroll/> * ''Mirzya,'' a 2016 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, is based on Mirza Sahiban and closely follows the original story. Harshvardhan Kapoor plays Mirza and Saiyami Kher plays Sahiba.<ref name=scroll/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/WATCH-Harshvardhan-Kapoors-Mirziya-logo-trailer-unveiled/articleshow/50204809.cms?|title=WATCH: Harshvardhan Kapoor's 'Mirziya' logo trailer unveiled!|author=Ruchi Kaushal|date=16 December 2015|newspaper=The Times of India (newspaper)|accessdate=8 November 2020}}</ref> * ''Mirza Juuliet'', a 2017 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Rajesh Ram Singh, starring Darshan Kumar and Piaa Bajpai in the lead roles. It is a modern retelling of the original story, set in Uttar Pradesh, showing the nexus between politicians and criminals. * ''Phillauri'', a 2017 Indian Hindi-language film starring Diljit Dosanjh and Anushka Sharma in lead roles, with the song Sahibaa portraying their love in comparison to Mirza and Sahiban's. * "Sahiba" (2019) is a song<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei2TBFxiCF0 |title=Sahiba (feat. Simiran Kaur Dhadli) |date=2021-10-26 |last=Intense - Topic |access-date=2026-01-21 |via=YouTube}}</ref> by Intense and Simiran Kaur Dhadli which presents the Mirza Sahiba story from Sahiba's perspective, arguing that she ought not have been vilified.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rice |first=Punita |date=2025-07-18 |title=Mirza Sahiba: Inspiration for The River’s Daughter by Punita Rice |url=https://www.punitarice.com/mirza-sahiba-story-inspiration/ |access-date=2026-01-21 |website=Punita Rice |language=en-US}}</ref> * ''Jersey'', a 2022 Indian Hindi-language film, features the song "Maiyya Mainu" by Sachet–Parampara, which compares the protagonists' love with Mirza-Sahiban's. * ''The River's Daughter'', a 2025 English language novel by Punita Rice.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rice |first=Punita |title=The River's Daughter |publisher=Rising Grains Publishing |year=2025 |isbn=9798998746925 |publication-date=July 15, 2025}}</ref> It is a feminist reimagining of the Mirza Sahiba story.
== Notes == {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
;Bibliography: * {{cite book |title=Romantic Tales From Punjab |first=Charles |last=Swynnerton |date=1903 |location=Westminster |publisher=Archibald Constable & Co. Ltd. |pages=365–407 |chapter=The Love Story of Mîrza and Sâhibânh |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/romantic-tales-from-punjab/page/367/mode/1up}}
==External links== * [http://www.lokesewa.com/literature-poetry.php Punjabi Literature and Poetry] {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mirza Sahiban}} Category:Love stories Category:Tragedy Category:Punjabi culture Category:Punjabi folklore Category:Punjabi literature Category:Indian folklore Category:Pakistani folklore Category:Pakistani literature