Tremendous times for Indian cinema: Nikkhil Advani

Filmmaker Nikhil Advani has heaped praise over "Neerja" and "Aligarh" for being rooted to reality, saying that such tough content is taking Indian cinema in the right direction.

Advani, who has helmed films like "Katti Batti" and "Hero" and backed films like "Airlift", took to Twitter to praise both the films.

"Tremendous times for Indian Cinema! #Neerja tomm #Aligarh on 26th. Kudos to both studios for backing tough content. @ErosNow @foxstarhindi," Advani posted.

If we talk about the films, "Neerja" and "Aligarh" present different sides of the society, where one shows how a young girl sacrificed her life to save others, "Aligarh" pans the camera on the prevailing stigma over homosexuality in the country.

"Neerja" is a biopic featuring Sonam Kapoor as Neerja Bhanot, a Pan Am chief purser who was gunned down by terrorists when a flight in Karachi was hijacked in 1986. She saved a number of lives but lost her own. It released on Friday.

And "Aligarh" is the story of a professor (Manoj Bajpayee), who got fired for his sexual views and a young journalist (Rajkummar Rao) who tells his story to the world. The Hansal Mehta-directorial is releasing on February 26.