There have been some centuries-old love tales that are irreplaceable and just take our breaths away. Be it Romeo and Juliet or our very own Sassi Punnu, each story has its own charm.
theatre
There have been some centuries-old love tales that are irreplaceable and just take our breaths away. Be it Romeo and Juliet or our very own Sassi Punnu, each story has its own charm. And one such awe-inspiring love story is of Heer Ranjha. It is a story of undying love that many still quote and look up to. This epic folktale has survived since the 15th century because of its archetypal dimensions. 
Popularised in 1766 by the Punjabi poet Waris Shah, it is a tragic love story. Faced by the repressive forces of the older generation, Heer Ranjha are repeatedly frustrated in their romantic aspirations until, after a journey that brings them closer to spiritual maturity, they are foiled once more and united only in death. This battle between the purity of youth and corruption of old age engages our imaginations on a fundamental level. The leading lady of this epic tale does not pine away, but rebels against the conventional norms of society and sacrifices everything for love.
And recently, Urdu musical, ‘Heer Ranjha’ was brought to life by director Zain Ahmed at the Karachi Arts Council, followed by runs in Lahore and Faisalabad. The narrative of the play was based on the script of Indian poet Kaifi Azmi that has been twisted to suit modern times. Azmi’s script is popular for its dialogues that follow a rhyming scheme which remains the highlight of the play too.
The play created a lot of hype as it marked the return of Sanam Saeed to theatre after two years and aimed at generating funds for education of the less privileged in collaboration with The Citizens Foundation (TCF).
The curtains rose to reveal a vivid image of actors in striking appearances - grabbing the audience’s attention instantly. The play opened with a group of boys and girls, including Heer (Sanam Saeed) and Ranjha (played by NAPA graduate Hasan Raza), dancing to a famous Punjabi track, ‘Chitta Kukkar Banere Te’. Dressed in traditional garb, they are attending a wedding where Heer and Ranjha meet each other for the first time and fall in love. Heer hails from Jhang while Ranjha belongs to Takht Hazara and the differences between the two villages force them to part ways. This was followed by some unforeseen episodes that form the crux of the play. The performances, dance sequences and the dialogues make for a visually appealing presentation. Moreover, songs from Azmi’s movie Heer Ranjha (1970) ‘Do dil tootay, do dil haaray’ and ‘Ye Duniya Ye Mehfil’ were also incorporated in the play.
Both Sanam Saeed and Hasan Raza gave strong performances - in terms of acting and singing - as Heer and Ranjha. Others who performed well included actors Meesam Naqvi (who essayed the antagonist Qaido) and Nazar ul Hasan (who played the role of Qazi). Veteran actors, Samina Ahmed and Arshad Mahmood, who played parents of Heer and had relatively small roles, were quite impressive. Also, the music and songs, composed by Nigel Bobby, were tweaked to match the theme of the play.
According to director Zain Ahmed, “Heer Ranjha has been presented on stage and in cinema many times before, so the expectations were really high. I wanted to present this love story with a twist and create a beautiful harmony in the new and old. Also, the play was an effort to help the cause of education as all proceeds from this play will go to TCF.”
Indeed, the musical was a success not only in Karachi but in Lahore and Faisalabad as well. We wish to see such renditions in the future too. Kudos to the entire team!
- M. Shirazi
