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nRakesh Omprakash Mehra’s film Mirzya is creating buzz these days. It isnexpected to rock the silver screen with two debuting actors – Anil Kapoor sonnHarshvardhan and Saiyami Kher. The film is based on the real life intense lovenstory of Mirza and Sahiban. This love story has become a sort of folklore innPunjab (both Indian and Pakistan).
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nThe mosque where the chemistry sparkled between Mirza and Sahiban isnlocated in Kheiwa village of Jang district in Pakistan.
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nThe Love Story of Mirza and Sahiban
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nThe legend says that the elder brother of Mirza had burned the entirenvillage. However, this mosque was miraculously survived and he couldn’t donanything. The mosque is still here since 17th Century and has becomena source of inspiration for any couple. It is a manifestation of love.
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nBut, it is quite unfortunate to note that this mosque which is really anninspiration for true lovers of the Indian subcontinent lies in a state ofnabject negligence. The reason is the folklore surrounding Mirza and Sahiban.nLocals of Kheiwa village as well as of surrounding areas don’t allow theirnchildren and relatives to visit the mosque. Needless to say, adults also don’tncome here. They think that the mosque is nothing but an evidence of anrelationship which was against the established norms of society – then or evennnow.
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nBefore taking you to world of this story, I would like to convey thatnMirza-Sahiban love story is the fourth and last popular (for some, notorious)nlove stories of the Punjab region. The other three are – Heer Ranjha, SassinPunnun and sohni Mahiwal. The love story of Mirza Sahiban is the last amongnthis quartet and after this people started to not give importance to thesentypes of intense love relationship. They thought making these anti-social lovenstories is only degrading the values of their societies.
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nThis is not the first film on Mirza Sahiban. There have been many othersnwhich were started by D. N. Madhok in 1939. However, in all these films younwill find a clear ambiguity in the thinking process of Sahiban, the femalenprotagonist.
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nHere goes the story:
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nThere was a teenage guy named Mirza Jatt who fell in love with nonenother than his cousin of the same age named Sahibaan. They were studyingntogether in the mosque where they started to develop liking for each other.
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nIt is not possible to conceal love for long and especially when thencouple belongs to same place. The love affair of Mirza and Sahiban also come tonthe notice of their families. The parents of Sahiban were quite unhappy withnthis decision, and in a hurry they fixed her marriage to another man.
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nOn the fateful day – the marriage of Sahiban with another man – Mirzancame on his horse, famous Bakki, and eloped with Sahiban.
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nMirza took Sahiban few kilometers away and decided to take some rest. Henwas already tired because of fighting. Sahiban asked him to not take rest, butnhe insisted and instantly slept.
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nMeanwhile, Sahiban brothers were franatically searching for her. She wasnwell aware of the fact that her brothers will come there sooner or later. Shenwas little bit perplexed as at that very moment she thought that Mirza being anstrong warrior may killed her brothers. She went forward and broke all arrowsnof Mirza who was sleeping then.
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nAs expected, Sahibaan brothers came there. Mirza also got up and triednto escape with Sahibaan. However, they had neutralized the couple. In that verynmoment when fight was imminent, Mirza noticed that all of his arrows arenbroken. In no time, he understood that it was Sahibaan, his love, who did allnthis.
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nSahibaan brothers killed Mirza on the spot who remained puzzled whynSahiban did this to him.
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nThere is no denying that Sahibaan is quite unpopular as a lover. She wantednto protect both of her families and her lover. But, she definitely madenblunders.
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