Bollywood and South Indian stars joined India's first festival of films focussing on disability that began here Thursday.

The five-day AbilityFest 2005, which focuses on stories of people who have overcome trials and fought discrimination, was inaugurated by Anuradha Mohit of the National Human Rights Commission.

"The right to culture is an important dimension of human rights. People with disabilities are great catalysts of culture," Mohit said. "Fiction is part of reality and reality is perceived differently by different people."

Among the Indian films being shown at the festival are "Black", "Koshish", "Khamoshi" and "Sparsh". A total of 29 films from around the world will be screened.

Fifty-three one-minute films short-listed for the "60 Seconds To Fame" contest will also be shown.

"I don't know what ability means. Is it just walking about? It is such questions that I keep asking myself. I hope this festival will help answer such questions," filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan told a gathering at Anand Theatre, where the films are to be screened.

Ability Foundation, a Chennai-based NGO, has organised the festival.

Actress Jaya Bachchan recalled how she had once been asked by the media to name her heroes. "My grandmother, mother and godmother, I had told the questioner," Bachchan said.

"When the questioner came back with a request to add a name that was not of a family member, I put Ability Foundation on my list."

Actress Nandita Das said the practice of showing the disabled in poor light in films should be discouraged.

Jayshree Raveendran, executive director of Ability Foundation and festival chairperson, said such festivals were an effective way of raising awareness about disability issues and tearing down stereotypes.

"The festival is a unique and inspiring showcase of extraordinary films from around the world," Raveendran said.