Ishq-E-Punjab Mirza Sahiban: A folk story that feels real and messy

Is it worth your time?

If you like stories that feel like they were pulled right out of the dirt and handed to you, then yes. You should watch this today if you don’t mind a movie that takes its time and doesn't care about being flashy.

People who need fast cars or big explosions will probably hate it. It’s a slow burn about two people making very bad decisions for love.

I think anyone who grew up hearing these old Panjab stories will find it interesting. It’s like seeing a legend come to life, but with more sweat and actual grit than the books tell you about.

The vibe of the thing

The first thing I noticed was how quiet the movie feels. Not a bad quiet, but like a heavy silence that happens right before a storm hits.

Bhai Desa plays Mirza with this weird kind of confidence. He walks around like he owns the horizon, which is exactly why things go so wrong later on.

There is a scene where he’s just resting under a tree. It goes on for a long time. You can hear the wind and not much else. Most movies would cut away after five seconds, but this one just lingers until you feel as sleepy as he does.

It reminds me a bit of the atmosphere in Kiss of Araby, though obviously the setting is totally different. It has that same feeling of the landscape being a character that wants to swallow everyone whole.

Small stuff that stuck with me

• The way Khurshid Begum looks at the arrows. You can tell she’s thinking about breaking them way before she actually does it.
• There is a guy in the background of one village scene who looks completely lost. I think he was an extra who forgot where the camera was.
• The horse. That horse looks like it has seen some things. It’s a solid performance from an animal, honestly.
• The audio gets a bit fuzzy during the singing. It actually makes it feel more authentic, like an old record playing in a room next door.

The tragedy of it all

We all know how it ends. The brothers show up, and things get bloody.

But the movie doesn't make it look like a heroic battle. It looks tiring. People are breathing hard and the dirt is getting everywhere.

I noticed Mirza’s turban gets slightly lopsided during the final confrontation. It’s a small detail but it made the whole thing feel less like a play and more like a real fight.

Sahiban’s reaction is what really gets you though. She’s caught between these two worlds and Khurshid Begum does this thing with her hands where she’s constantly clutching her shawl.

The lighting in the final scenes is a bit dark. I couldn't tell if it was supposed to be evening or if the film stock was just getting old. Probably a bit of both.

Final thoughts (sort of)

It’s not a perfect movie. The pacing drags in the middle when they are just traveling.

Sometimes the dialogue feels a bit stiff, like they are reciting poetry instead of talking. But I guess that's the point of a folk tale.

I found myself thinking about The Old Curiosity Shop while watching this. Not because the stories are the same, but because both movies feel like they belong to a different century entirely.

They don't make them like this anymore. Thank goodness for some things, but I do miss the raw feeling of these older productions.

Anyway, if you have a couple of hours and want to feel a bit sad in a beautiful way, give it a go. Just don't expect a happy ending. You won't get one. 🏹