Mumbai, with its rich theatre culture and diverse population, would seem like an ideal destination for plays in various languages. But when an Urdu drama is staged in Solapur, it's a spectacle in its own right. An auditorium that can seat over 1,200 people is packed beyond capacity, such that viewers don't mind sitting in the aisles. Young and old, children and college students flock to the venue carrying dabbas, so they don't lose their seat in the interval. It's a similar sight in Malegaon and Bhiwandi where audiences shower love on Urdu productions.

The festival is being celebrated at the state level for the first time