the complexity of divorce in modern urban life. Siddiqi has successfully ventured into various domains, from Bertolt Brecht to more contemporary themes in his adaptations. He has adapted Bertolt Brecht's play Puntilla and several of his other works. His play Andhe Choohe based on Agatha Christie's Mousetrap, is one of the world's longest-running dramas. In the words of critic Vijay Nair, "Javed Siddiqi's lines are as poignant as ever. They leap out of the letters as little gems. At times they plead with the incoherence of hurts long stifled. At times they flare up like little flames scorching the audience. At times they soothe like fresh raindrops after a scorching summer. But at all times they have a life of their own and make their presence felt like an invisible third character on stage. His play 1857: Ek Safarnama set in Indian Rebellion of 1857 was also stage at Purana Qila, Delhi ramparts by Nadira Babbar and National School of Drama Repertory company, in 2008. Over the years he has written numerous plays, including Hamesha, Begum Jaan, Aap Ki Soniya and Kacche Lamhe. Personal life Javed Siddiqi belongs to the family of great freedom fighters, Mohammad Ali Jouhar and his brother Maulana Shaukat Ali well known as the Ali brothers. His great grandfather Hafiz Ahmed Ali Shauq was a historian and had written a number of books, he was the first librarian of Shahi Qutub Khana now known as Raza Library. His father Shujaat Ali, had served in the same library as an assistant librarian for a long time. His early education was in Rampur’s Hamid High School and Jaame-ul-uloom, Furqaniah. He passed his high school in English in Aligarh Muslim University. At a very early age of 17, he migrated to Bombay and under the able guidance of his uncle Maulana Zahid Shaukat Ali, Javed started his career as a journalist in his Urdu newspaper Khilafat Daily. He then proceeded to work in newspapers such as Inquilab and Hindustan and then started his own newspaper named Urdu Reporter. Siddiqi started his career in films as a dialogue writer and assistant director to Satyajit Ray in Shatranj Ke Khilari. He also assisted James Ivory as chief assistant director. Siddiqi has four children: Murad, Lubna, Sameer and Zeba. Lubna Salim, and Sameer Siddiqui are both involved in the film and theatre arena. Urdu literature In 2012, Siddiqi wrote a book of