For over 16 years now, New Delhi-based Saksham Theatre has produced plays in Hindi and Urdu, both contemporary and classic. A known name on New Delhi's theatre map, the group has now made an entry into Mumbai, with its first festival that opened on New Year's Day. "We wanted to announce that we have arrived, starting this year. And doing it on January 1 made sense," says Himanshu Barola, actor with the group.

While the festival brings some of the group's own plays like Miya Biwi aur Manto, Baaki Itihaas and The Physicist to town, Saksham Theatre has also partnered with city-based groups Colourblind Entertainment, Natyakirin Manch and Pushkar Theatre Group. They choose to work without a theme in a bid to cater to every genre. "Every play has something different to offer. We didn't want it to be only drama, only humour or restricted to any one genre," explains Barola.