Heer Ranjha

Heer Ranjha (Punjabi: [ɦiɾ ɾaːnd͡ʒ(ʱ)aː]) is a classic Punjabi folk tragedy rich in historical poetic narratives. The earliest known version was written by Damodar Gulati in the 1600s, based on a pre-existing oral legend. The most famous rendition, Heer, was penned by Waris Shah in 1766, in the form of an epic. Set in the regions of Takht Hazara and Tilla Jogian, it tells the poignant tale of love, forced separation, and the eventual tragic deaths of two young lovers in the Punjabi countryside. It is one of the four beloved tragic romances of Punjab, alongside Mirza Sahiban, Sohni Mahiwal, and Sassi Punnun.