Directed by Adeel Abbas Adil, with Ihtisham Kazim serving as assistant director, the production revisits a centuries-old Punjabi folk narrative through the perspective of Loona, a woman whose character has often been judged through the moral standards of a patriarchal society.
The story draws on Qissa Puran Bhagat, a well-known Punjabi folk tale associated with the nineteenth-century poet Qadir Yar. The narrative revolves around Puran, the son of Raja Salwan of Sialkot and his wife Ichhran, and Loona, the king’s young second wife. In traditional tellings, Loona’s desire for Puran and the events that follow become central to the story’s tragic course.
Batalvi reinterpreted this familiar narrative in his verse play Loona, published in 1965. Rather than simply repeating the traditional moral judgement of its central character, he gives greater attention to Loona’s circumstances as a young woman from a lower-caste background, married to an older king against her will. The play examines the ways caste hierarchy, patriarchy and unequal power shape women’s lives and influence how their choices are judged.
Loona received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1967, establishing its significance in modern Punjabi literature. Its continued relevance lies in its challenge to established assumptions about morality, desire and women’s agency.
Speaking about the production, director Adeel Abbas Adil said: “Loona is not simply a retelling of an old Punjabi story; it is an attempt to understand the woman behind the character. We wanted the audience to look beyond the traditional judgement of Loona and consider how caste, patriarchy and the social restrictions imposed on women shaped her life. Bringing this work to the stage in Sialkot also allows us to reconnect Punjabi literature with its cultural roots.”
Assistant director Ihtisham Kazim said the production sought to make a classical Punjabi text meaningful for contemporary audiences.
“Working on Loona has been an opportunity to explore how a classical Punjabi text can speak to contemporary audiences. The story raises questions about power, identity and the right to make personal choices. Through the performances, poetry and music, we wanted to preserve the depth of the original literary tradition while making its social questions accessible to a new generation,” he said.
The cast featured Tania Chiara as Loona, Saroosh Khan Rokhri as Puran, Aurangzeb Bhai as Raja Salwan, Aiman Chaghi as Ichhran and Shahroz Kazim as Sutardhar. Muhammad Zain Akhtar portrayed Raja Varman and Raja Chudhal, while Shaista played Iera and Amber played Goli. Areez Murtaza performed the singing throughout the play. Noman, Kumail and Robeen were part of the production team.
By bringing Loona to the stage in Sialkot, the production offered audiences an opportunity to revisit a significant work of Punjabi literature and reconsider a familiar folk narrative from a different perspective. It also highlighted the continuing role of theatre in preserving Punjabi language and literary traditions while engaging with questions of gender, social hierarchy and justice.
