Sohni Mahiwal

The second and final performance of this epic love story, timed for the Independence Day weekend of India and Pakistan. Sohni Mahiwal (or Suhni Mehar) is a long-established tragic romance from Sindh and Punjab, dating back to the 10th century and regularly reworked in song, theatre and film. The heroine Sohni, unhappily married to a man she despises (usually depicted as a maker of pottery), swims every night across the river to her lover Mahiwal – whose name means ‘buffalo herder’ because he does indeed look after a herd buffaloes. The river is fierce and she uses an earthenware pot as a buoyancy aid; but her sister in law learns of the relationship and replaces it with a vessel of unbaked clay which dissolves in the water …

The production includes live music and creative storytelling in exploring themes of love, sacrifice and tragedy in the face of social disapproval. It’s a collaboration between Behind the Mask Productions, Tall Tales Productions, and the Junction; the director, Alishan Bin Sohail, promises that “our talented cast and creative team, combined with our commitment to producing a high-quality production, make us confident that this play will resonate with audiences and provide an important perspective on the impact of natural disasters on love and relationships”.

The show is primarily in Urdu/Hindi, but there are English subtitles.