Woh Afsana – A soulful epic romance theatrical

“Woh afsana jise anjaam tak laana na ho mumkin, Use ek khoobsurat mod dekar chhodna accha” (If a story cannot be completed, it is better to give it a beautiful turn and leave it).

The love story of Amrita Pritam and Sahir Ludhianvi, as tragic, unfulfilled yet deep it was, remains one for the generations. The intensity and sheer audacity of two extremely creative, passionate and accomplished individuals, is enough to pull you in whenever it plays out in front, whatever the medium.

At Khalsa University, Team Rabtaa, a Delhi- based theatre group, presented “Woh Afsana”, a tale forever told, everytime with a similar ache. Chronicling the intense, unrequited love story between Sahir Ludhianvi and Amrita Pritam, set against a backdrop of poetry and music, the play explored their deep emotional connection, their time in Lahore, and the reflective silences that defined their relationship.

Dedicated to International Mother Tongue Day, celebrated on February 21, Woh Afsana was filled with drama, music, and poetic expression, bringing out emotions and biographical narrations through a rare display of art of theatre.

The performance beautifully captured emotions and storytelling, leaving the audience deeply engaged. The cast Jaishree and Shamir, singer Shreeya and Rajesh impressed the audience with their gripping stage presence, supported by an equally good writing. Using music and singing as part of the narration and capitalising on the two great poets body of work, there were moments during the play when it felt like a big screen, live storytelling.

The play also draws from accounts from the book “Main Sahir Hoon” by Chander P Verma and Amrita Pritam’s autobiography “Raseedi Ticket”. Chief guest Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, Pro Chancellor, KU, applauded the biographical story through the theatre as it unravelled the mysterious relationship between the two legends. He said the aim of the presentation was to apprise the students of the varsity about the erstwhile philosophical lives of the writers and their writings.

KU Registrar Dr Khushvinder Kumar said such cultural initiatives reflected the university’s dedication to nurturing creativity, talent and holistic development alongside academic excellence.