‘Khoya Huwa Aadmi’ searches for self

The Khoya Huwa Aadmi or The Lost Man, by the famous satirist late Kamal Ahmed Rizvi, went on stage at the Zia Mohiuddin Theater in National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), earning accolades from the audience for its realistic portrayals.

The direction of the play was skilfully executed by Sibtain Ali, and the cast included talented actors such as Kiran Siddiqui, Syed Qasim Shah, Sheryl John, Zarqa Naz, and Jahanzaib Nawi.

The Khoya Huwa Aadmi revolves around a man named Danish, who resides on the 14th floor of an apartment in a posh locality with his wife, Bano.

Highly sarcastic in character, Danish, portrayed as a sociopath, is perturbed by everything around him. He has a verbal spat with his wife and neighbours over a late-night party at the airhostess’s flat across the hall.

Even after taking tranquillizers, he remains disturbed by noises like passing cars and the smell of garbage. His journey up to Teen Talwar feels like being in a foreign land.

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In the midst of this, water from the cooler and the ringing of his mobile phone go unnoticed by Danish. Danish believes that any form of therapy is unnecessary for him; he needs someone to help him find himself.

When a neighbour asks him not to speak loudly, he retorts that he owns the apartment and was not a tenant.

The troubles of Danish and Bano compound when burglars strike their home. Thieves make off with valuable items, including a 52-inch TV, and surprisingly even money concealed in books, as well as medicines, shampoo, and toothpaste are taken away.

At the same time, Danish delivers the heart-wrenching news to his wife that he has lost his job after 25 years of service, deepening his sadness.

The situation worsens at home, leading to domestic fights due to misunderstandings. Eventually, Danish has a nervous breakdown, and the situation takes a turn. Bano gets a job to make ends meet, only to be deprived of it after some period due to which their financial situation becomes even more challenging.

The drama “Khoya Huwa Aadmi” will continue its performances until October 29.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2023.