Heer Ranjha

Heer Ranjha (or Heer and Ranjha) is one of several popular tragic romances of Punjab, other important ones being "Sohni Mahiwal", "Mirza Sahiban" and "Sassi Punnhun". There are several poetic narrations of the story, the most famous being "Heer" by Waris Shah written in 1766. It tells the story of the love of Heer Sial and her lover Dheedo Ranjha.
History.
"Heer Ranjha" was written by Waris Shah. Some historians say that the story was the original work of Shah, written after he had fallen in love with a girl named Bhag Bhari. Others say that Heer and Ranjha were real personalities who lived under the Lodi dynasty in the northern Indian subcontinent, of the 15th and 16th century and that Waris Shah later utilised these personalities for his novel that he wrote in 1766. Waris Shah states that the story has a deeper meaning, referring to the unrelenting quest that man has towards God.
Example from the epic poem.
Rag Heer Ranjha. The invocation at the beginning, in one version:
Summary of the love story.
Heer/Ezzat Bibi is an extremely beautiful woman, born into a wealthy high caste family of the Sial Rajput in Jhang Punjab, Pakistan. Ranjha/Murad Bukhsh (whose nickname is Dheedo; Ranjha is the surname, his caste is Ranjha), a Jat of the Ranjha tribe, is the youngest of four brothers and lives in the village of Takht Hazara by the river Chenab in Pakistan. Being his father's favorite son, unlike his brothers who had to toil in the lands, he led a life of ease, playing the flute ('Wanjhli'/'Bansuri'). After the death of Ranjha's father, Mauju Chaudhry, Ranjha has a quarrel with his brothers over land, Ranjha leaves home. In Waris Shah's version of the epic, it is said that Ranjha left his home because his brothers' wives refused to give and serve him food. Eventually he arrives in Heer's village and falls in love with her. Heer's father offers Ranjha a job herding his cattle. Heer becomes mesmerised by the way Ranjha plays his flute and eventually falls in love with him. They meet each other secretly for many years until they are caught by Heer's jealous uncle, Kaido, and her parents Chuchak and Malki. Heer is forced by her family and the local priest or 'Maulvi' to marry another man named Saida Khera.
Ranjha is heartbroken. He wanders the countryside alone, until eventually he meets a Shaiva Jogi (ascetic). After meeting Gorakhnath, the founder of the "Kanphata" (pierced ear) sect of jogis at Tilla Jogian (the 'Hill of Ascetics', located 80 kilometres north of the historic town of Bhera, Sargodha District, Punjab), Ranjha becomes a jogi himself, piercing his ears and renouncing the material world. While reciting the name of the Lord, he wanders all over Punjab, eventually finding the village where Heer now lives.
The two return to Heer's village, where Heer's parents agree to their marriage - though some versions of the story state that the parent's agreement is only a deception. On the wedding day, Kaido poisons her food so that the wedding will not take place, in order to punish the girl for her behaviour. Hearing this news, Ranjha rushes to aid Heer, but is too late, as she has already eaten the poison and has died. Brokenhearted once again, Ranjha eats the remaining poisoned "Laddu" (sweet) which Heer has eaten and dies by her side.
Heer and Ranjha are buried in Heer's hometown, Jhang. Love-smitten couples and others often pay visits to their mausoleum.
Legacy and influence.
Because its plot involves a romance opposed by family members and ends with the two lovers dying, the story is often compared to the Shakespeare play "Romeo and Juliet".
In popular culture.
The epic poem has been made into several feature films between 1928 and 2013.
In 2013, the television serial "Heer Ranjha", directed by Shahid Zahoor and produced by Yousuf Salahuddin, aired on PTV Home. "Heer Ranjha" is a 2020 Indian Punjabi-language period drama television series starring Amaninder Pal Singh and Sara Gurpal in the lead roles. It aired on Zee Punjabi and is based on the folktale of Heer and Ranjha.
In music.
Bally Jagpal British musician has a song dedicated to their story. ‘RANJHA’ (sad love song). 
The British musician Panjabi MC references the tale of Heer and Ranjha in his 2003 song "Jogi". It has been sung by various Pakistani singers, including the classical/traditional artist Ghulam Ali.
The tale is mentioned in popular Bollywood songs such as "Ranjha" by Rupesh Kumar Ram from the movie "Queen" ,"Ranjha Ranjha" by Rekha Bhardwaj and Javed Ali from the movie "Raavan" and "Dariya" from the movie "Baar Baar Dekho".
The names of Heer and Ranjha have been referred in the song lyrics of "One Love: The Taj Anthem" by A.R.Rahman.
Alam Lohar is renowned for reciting Heer in various styles and one of the first international folk singers to bring this story in a song format.
One of the songs of 2012 Hindi film "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" has been named "Heer".
Also, the 2018 Hindi film "Race 3" has a song named "Heeriye" which refers to Heer and Ranjha.
In 2020, popular Indian Youtuber Bhuvan Bam wrote and sang a song "Heer Ranjha" and it has garnered more than 10 millions as of now, which depicts the brutal customs of society