By : Jaswant Singh Puri : Harpal Tiwana’s birth anniversary was celebrated on 25th August,2013 at his home town Patiala. The special screening of nationally acclaimed Punjabi film DIVA BALE SAARI RAAT was organised at Harpal Tiwana Centre For Performing Arts, at 6:00PM. This film was featured by Harpal Tiwana, Preeti Sapru, Girija Shankar, Neena Tiwana, Nirmal Rishi,Mehar Mittal and Sardar Sohi. The film was edited by Abaque Hussain. The music score of the film was provided by legendary late Ghazal maestro late Jagjit Singh & his wife Chitra Singh. Diva Bale Saari Raat was the theme song of the film.
Manpal Tiwana son of Harpal Tiwana welcomed the august gathering in the auditorium with the Harpal Tiwana’s famous song “JE SAJNA NU MILAN JAANA ”The distinguished guests included Preeti Sapru, Girija Shankar, Nirmal Rishi, Amarjit Singh Sidhu, G.K. Singh and Madan Lal Bhardwaj, producer of the film.
The film depicted rural Punjab where Muslim, Sikh and Hindu families were harmoniously living together. The main story revolves around a Muslim family of the village. Mehar Mittal provided comedian inputs to the film
Preeti Sapru who acted as Aisha. She was born and brought up in a poor Muslim family of the village. She lost her mother when she was in her childhood and was living under the care and protection of her old and ailing father. Aisha fell in love with Girija shankar who acted as Siba Khan.
Harpal Tiwana who acted as Jani Khan was a old village aristocrat .Khan sister pressurised him to get married with young Aisha by heavily bribing Neena Tiwana who acted as Ambo.
Ambo played the role of muslim holy woman. She further bribed Aisha’s father and made old and weak Jani Khan to marry young Aisha.When Siba Khan came to know about this marriage he narrated the entire incident to the village Sarpanch (Head).
The village Sarpanch then reminded Ambo that Siba Khan was her own illicit son which she threw in front of Sarpanch’s house when khan was an infant. The village head also reminded Ambo of her illicit love affair when she was a maiden.
Ambo realised that she had committed Himalayan blunder and ruined the life of her son. She then approached Siba Khan and got her employed in the service of Aisha’s husband Jaani khan .Siba was made incharge of khan’s livestocks
Aisha was dedicated and loyal towards Jaani khan but she could not conceive because of Khan’s old age. This made Aisha frustrated. She accidentally met Siba Khan when he was working in her fields and requested him that he should not desire her and go back.
Jindo sister of Jaani Khan also developed liking for Siba Khan but khan suppressed all her illicit moves.
Ambo persuaded Aisha to visit village Pir(tomb) for lighting an earthern lamp so that she could be blessed with a son. This made Aisha to run away from her old husband’s house without his permission to the tomb. This act of Aisha enraged Jaani khan and he chased Aisha on the horse back with his gun. There was exchange of hot words between Aisha and Jaani Khan .She alleged Khan that due to weakness on his part she was not blessed with a child. This statement of Aisha enraged Jaani Khan and he ran away from the tomb and jumped into the river.
Siba Khan extracted the body of Jaani Khan out of the river but he was declared dead.
After Jaani Khan’s death, Jindo and other villagers arranged the marriage of Aisha and Siba Khan and the couple thereafter lived happily.
On this auspicious occasion Manpal Tiwana presented mementos to Preeti Sapru, Girija Shankar, Nirmal Rishi and Amarjit Singh Sidhu.
Preeti Sapru appreciated Harpal Tiwana’s filmmaking genius and thanked Punjab government for making auditorium in the memory of late respected Harpal Tiwana.She further wished that Punjabi theatre should be promoted all over the world.
Girija Shankar wished every body Sat Shri Akal and good evening and appreciated Punjab government for making an auditorium in Harpal Tiwana’s memory.
He said that he was proud to be associated with this movie and stressed that more such movies should be made and filmed.
It was Harpal Tiwana Who introduced Bhangra in Punjabi movies. The august gathering missed Neena Tiwana because she was outside India.
In the end Manpal Tiwana thanked the august gathering for attending Harpal Tiwana’s Birth Anniversary celebrations.