NAPA Presents ‘Aik Diary jo Kho Gayee’ A Play by Rahat Kazmi

About The Play

Aik Diary jo Kho Gayee directed by Rahat Kazmi is an adaptation of Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs. Neil Simon earned kudos for what many critics consider the best example of his efforts to combine his trademark humor with a level of drama and character introspection. The play won Simon the New York Drama Critics Circle Prize for Best Play.

The action of the play is viewed from the perspective of a young teenage boy growing up in a middle class family. The play is about discovering the complexities of life as a young adult. Kaleem discovers a new awareness of the world during the course of the play. It is definitely a coming of age play as well as focusing on the emotional and physicals trials of the other characters in the play. A family seeking a better life in the post 1971 division of Pakistan, faced with decisions and compromises.

A young teenage boy narrates the story of how his aunt and her two daughters come to live with them from Dhaka. He narrates the tale of his father and his struggles to provide for their now extended family; the story of his elder brother who has to choose between his principles or his job, his cousin who does not want to compromise on her dream to be an actor and his mother who wishes a secure and happy future for all.

Neil Simon is known for his wit and this play captures many important moments and decisions with humour and comedy. This is a play that is a very carefully crafted balance of the serious and comic in life.

About the Author

Neil Simon (born July 4, 1927) is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has written more than thirty plays and nearly the same number of movie screenplays, mostly adaptations of his plays. He has received more combined Oscar and Tony nominations than any other writer.

After winning the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1991 for Lost in Yonkers, critics began to take notice of the depths, complexity and issues of universal interest in his stories, which expressed serious concerns of most average people. His comedies were based around subjects such as marital conflict, infidelity, sibling rivalry, adolescence, and fear of aging. Most of his plays were also partly autobiographical, portraying his troubled childhood and different stages of his life, creating characters who were typically New Yorkers and often Jewish, like himself. Simon’s facility with dialogue gives his stories a rare blend of realism, humor and seriousness which audiences find easy to identify with.

About the Director

Rahat Kazmi, currently the Head of Theatre at NAPA; resigned from the civil services of Pakistan in 1976 to pursue his love for the theatre, media and education. His contribution has been widely acknowledged both by the critics and the public. In the last 30 years, he has been associated with some of the best theatrical and television productions in the country.

Sania Iftikhar

Sania Iftikhar believes in the power of clear, straightforward writing. Her blog posts tackle everyday topics with relatable insights and easy-to-follow advice. With a conversational style, she makes complex subjects feel understandable. She’s dedicated to sharing knowledge and empowering readers to take action. Find her latest posts on trending in social.