IC 814 webseries in Netflix’s latest drama series, “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack,” has hit a turbulent patch, drawing ire from several quarters due to its portrayal of the hijackers involved in the high-profile 1999 plane hijacking incident. The series, helmed by the acclaimed director Anubhav Sinha, has garnered significant attention for its depiction of the events surrounding the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814. However, the show’s choice of names for two of the hijackers has provoked a strong reaction from viewers and activists alike.
The controversy erupted earlier this week when several users on social media criticized the series for its representation of the hijackers. The main point of contention revolves around the names assigned to the four hijackers depicted in the series. According to the critics, naming two of the hijackers “Bhola” and “Shankar” does not align with their actual identities and allegedly distorts their religious backgrounds. This discrepancy has led to accusations that the series is misrepresenting or oversimplifying a complex and sensitive historical event.
The backlash has prompted a significant response from the Indian government. The Information & Broadcasting Ministry summoned Monika Shergill, the Chief Content Officer of Netflix India, to address the concerns raised. The ministry’s intervention underscores the seriousness of the grievances and the potential impact of the series on public sentiment.
Further intensifying the situation, a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed with the Delhi High Court by the president of an organization known as ‘Hindu Sena.’ The PIL alleges that the series intentionally misrepresents the hijackers’ religious affiliations by using names that do not correspond with the actual hijackers’ identities. The plea demands that the court revoke the series’ certification, arguing that the distortion of religious identities could lead to widespread misinformation and communal tensions.
“IC 814: The Kandhar Hijack” is a six-episode series that dramatizes the events of December 24, 1999, when Indian Airlines flight IC-814 was hijacked shortly after its departure from Kathmandu en route to Delhi. The Airbus A300, carrying 155 passengers and crew members, was diverted through several locations including Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai, and eventually to Kandahar in Afghanistan, which was under Taliban control at the time.
The hijacking ordeal lasted for six harrowing days, marked by intense negotiations between the hijackers and the Indian government. The series portrays the high-stakes diplomatic efforts and the tense atmosphere surrounding the hijacking. It culminates with the dramatic decision by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government to release three high-profile terrorists—Masood Azhar, Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar—in exchange for the safe release of the hostages.
The decision to release these terrorists remains one of the most controversial aspects of the incident, with debates continuing about whether it was the right move to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew. The series seeks to capture this tension and the complex political landscape of the time, aiming to provide a nuanced portrayal of the events.
Despite its critical acclaim and the significant effort put into bringing this historical event to life, the series now faces scrutiny over its creative choices. Critics argue that the names used for the hijackers may have been chosen for dramatic effect or to simplify the narrative for the audience. However, the accusations of distortion and misrepresentation have sparked a broader discussion about the responsibilities of creators when dealing with real-life events, especially those with sensitive cultural and religious dimensions.
As the PIL and government intervention highlight, the portrayal of historical events in popular media can have far-reaching implications. The outcome of the ongoing legal and political discussions will likely influence how such narratives are approached in the future. For now, “IC 814: The Kandhar Hijack” stands as a powerful example of how historical dramas can evoke strong responses and provoke important conversations about representation, accuracy, and the impact of storytelling on public perception.
'Content According to Nation's Sentiments': Centre and Netflix Meet on IC 814 webSeries
New Delhi: Netflix India has recently pledged to align its content with the “nation’s sentiments” following controversy over its web series ‘IC 814 Kandahar Hijack’. This assurance came after a contentious response to the series, which revisits the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by the Pakistan-based terror group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. Directed by Anubhav Sinha and released on August 29, the series has faced backlash for its portrayal of the hijackers, who were depicted using names like “Bhola” and “Shankar” that are associated with Lord Shiva. Critics argue that this depiction distorts historical facts and misrepresents the terrorists’ real identities, offending Hindu sentiments.
The series sparked a heated debate on social media, with hashtags such as #BoycottNetflix and #BoycottBollywood trending. BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya accused the filmmakers of attempting to sanitize the crimes of Pakistani terrorists by using Hindu names, thus misleading future generations. In contrast, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Shiv Sena-UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi labeled the outrage as selective, questioning the consistency of demands for historical accuracy in media portrayals.
Adding to the debate, a Union Home Ministry document from 1999 clarified that the hijackers used nicknames like Bhola, Shankar, Doctor, and Burger among themselves during the hijacking. This document corroborates the series’ portrayal, as it confirms that these names were indeed used by the hijackers, who were known by these names to the passengers.
In a related development, actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming film ‘Emergency’ has also encountered scrutiny. The film, which stars Ranaut as former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and is based on the 21-month emergency period from 1975 to 1977, has faced objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). This has led to a delay in the film’s release as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reviews the concerns.
Ranaut has criticized the situation, arguing that it is “hugely demotivating and unjust” to face censorship when depicting historical facts, while other content, including OTT platforms’ offerings, appears to escape similar scrutiny. She pointed out that while some content is allowed to depict extreme violence and nudity without consequence, attempts to accurately portray historical events face undue obstacles.