Islamabad: The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) screened a film on “Heer Ranja” under its Film Club – Mandwa. The screening was taken palce at Lok Virsa Media Centre located here at Garden Avenue, Shakarparian. The film “Heer” was produced by Ejaz Durrani and directed by Masood Pervez. Music was contributed by Khurshid Anwar.
Top singers of the Pakistan Film Industry Madam Noor Jehan, Naseem Begum, Munir Hussain, Irene Perveen, Masood Rana & Mujeeb Alam sung the songs for the fim under the music composition of Khurshid Anwar. Artists were Ejaz, Ferdous Ajmal, Munawar Zarif, Zamurad, Salma Mumtaz and Najm-ul-Hassan. It is a sing along and dress along evening.
Celebrated Film Director Syed Noor was the chief guest, whereas Ejaz Durrani, who produced the film, was the guest of honour on the film screening.
The Story of Heer Ranjha
Our hero, Dhedo Ranjha, plays his flute and runs around with his friends all day long in his village. His sisters-in-law, tired of his pranks, dare him to go to a faraway village and win over Heer, who was known in the land for her beauty. Ranjha goes over to Heer’s village and they both immediately fall in love with each other. Hiding his identity, Ranjha gets a job taking care of cattle for Heer’s father.
The younger brother of Heer’s father, Kaido, with his limp, in a bitter man and abhors love and lovers. He follows the couple closely trying to expose their relationship. Finally, when Heer gets caught, she is restricted in her house and is engaged to marry Saida Khera.
At the wedding, Kaido pays off the Qazi to get Heer married off illegally, without her consent. After the wedding, Heer does not let Saida close to her but the active resistance to her comes from Saida’s sister, Sehti.
In his wanderings, Ranjha runs into a Nathi jogi (Saiva mystic) who initiates him into the jogi panth. In the guise of jogi, Ranjha goes after Heer to the village of the Khehras.
It is the pain of separation from her own lover, Murad Baloch, that connects Sehti to Heer. Ranjha helps Sehti to connect with her love, Murad, and she vows to help. Sehti runs off with Murad and Heer, as a Jogan, with her Ranjha.
Sehti devises a scheme whereby Heer pretends to be bitten by a snake and as the Jogis were known to heal snake bites, Ranjha jogi is called in to help. Sehti runs off with Murad and Heer, as a Jogan, with her Ranjha.
The Khehas catch up with Heer and Ranjha with the help of Kaid. As they fight with Ranjha, the guards of the local Raja for justic. Raja imprisons Ranjha and sends Heer back with the Khehras.
