Mirza Sahiban[a] (Punjabi:[mɪɾzaːsaːɦɪbãː]) also spelled as "Mirza Sahiba" (Punjabi:[mɪɾzaːsaːɦɪbãː]) is a classicalPunjabi folktragedy, originally recorded in literary form by the 17th-century poetPilu. Set in a village (now inJhang district ofPakistan), the tragedy follows the romance between two youths, belonging to chieftain families of their respective clans, their elopement and eventual demise.
The story was written byPilu, a poet who lived during 16th century in Punjab.[5] Mirza and Sahiban were lovers who lived inKhewa, a town in theJhang District which was Sahiban's ancestral village. Mirza was the son of Banjal, aKharal chief ofDanabad while Sahiban was the daughter of Khiva Khan.[5] Mirza and Sahiban belonged to theJat community.[6]
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 ajand 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.
Mirza Juuliet, a 2017 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Rajesh Ram Singh, starringDarshan Kumar andPiaa Bajpai in the lead roles. It is a modern retelling of the original story, set inUttar Pradesh, showing the nexus between politicians and criminals.
Phillauri, a 2017 Indian Hindi-language film starringDiljit Dosanjh andAnushka Sharma in lead roles, with the song Sahibaa portraying their love in comparison to Mirza and Sahiban's.
"Sahiba" (2019) is a song[13] by Intense and Simiran Kaur Dhadli which presents the Mirza Sahiba story from Sahiba's perspective, arguing that she ought not have been vilified.[14]
Jersey, a 2022 Indian Hindi-language film, features the song "Maiyya Mainu" bySachet–Parampara, which compares the protagonists' love with Mirza-Sahiban's.
The River's Daughter, a 2025 English language novel by Punita Rice.[15] It is a feminist reimagining of the Mirza Sahiba story.
^Sahibaan remains unheard.The Hindu (newspaper), Published 11 October 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
^abBanga, Indu (2005). "Appendix - The Story of Mirza and Sahiban in Pilu's Narrative". In Grewal, Reeta; Pall, Sheena (eds.).Precolonial and Colonial Punjab: Society, Economy, Politics, and Culture: Essays for Indu Banga. Manohar. p. 171.ISBN9788173046544.Mirza was the son of Banjal, a Kharal Jat Chief of Danabad in the Montgomery district. Sahiban was the daughter of the Jat Chief Khiva Khan belonging to the Syal clan ...
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