Mirza Sahiban (Punjabi: [mɪɾzaː saːɦɪbãː]) is a classical Punjabi folk tragedy, originally recorded in literary form by the 17th-century poet Pilu. Set in a village (now in Jhang district of Pakistan), 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.
Sassui Punnhun is a Sindhi, and Balochi and Punjabi tragic folktale. Set in Sindh and Makran, the tragedy follows the story of a faithful lover who endures many difficulties while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by rivals.
It is one of the seven popular tragic romances of Sindh. The other six are Umar Marvi, Momal Rano, Sohni Mehar, Lilan Chanesar, Sorath Rai Diyach, and Noori Jam Tamachi. In Punjab, it is among four of the most popular romances. The other three are Heer Ranjha, Sohni Mahiwal and Mirza Sahiban.
Heer Ranjha (Punjabi: [ɦiɾ ɾaːnd͡ʒ(ʱ)aː]) is a classical Punjabi folk tragedy with many historic poetic narrations; with the first one penned by Damodar Gulati in 1600s, on the preexisting oral legend; and the most famous one, Heer, written by Waris Shah in 1766, in the form of an epic. Set in Takht Hazara and Tilla Jogian, it follows the story of love, forced separation, and eventual simultaneous demise of two youths in the Punjabi countryside.
It is one of the four popular tragic romances of the Punjab. The other three are Mirza Sahiban, Sohni Mahiwal and Sassi Punnun.
Sohni Mahiwal (Punjabi: [soː(ɦ)ɳiː məɦĩʋaːl]) or Suhni Mehar is a classical Punjabi–Sindhi folk tragedy. Set in northern Punjab or central Sindh, depending upon the version of the tragedy, the folktale depicts the separation of two lovers and their tragic demise.
In Punjab, it is one of four of the most popular romances, the other three being Heer Ranjha, Mirza Sahiban and Sassui Punnhun. In Sindh, it is one of the seven popular tragic romances. The other six are Sassui Punnhun, Umar Marvi, Momal Rano, Lilan Chanesar, Sorath Rai Diyach and Noori Jam Tamachi.
Pilu (c. 1580–1675) was a Punjabi dramatic poet who is most well known for composing the Punjabi tragic romance Mirza Sahiban. Not much is known about identity of Pilu but according to most sources he was a resident of village Bhaun, Chakwal in modern-day Pakistan. Although others identify his birthplace as Amritsar, he was a contemporary of Mughal Emperor Akbar.