Netflix’s latest docuseries, ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack,’ directed by Anubhav Sinha, has sparked controversy over its portrayal of the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814. The series, based on real events, dramatizes the hijacking by the Pakistan-based terror group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. However, the decision to use aliases like ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’ for the terrorists instead of their real names has ignited a firestorm of criticism on social media.
BJP leader Amit Malviya took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his discontent, arguing that using aliases for the terrorists, who were known to have assumed different names to conceal their Muslim identities, legitimizes their actions. He asserted that the use of non-Muslim names would mislead viewers into believing that Hindus were involved in the hijacking. Malviya’s stance has been echoed by many on social media, using hashtags like #BoycottNetflix, #BoycottBollywood, and #IC814 to voice their disapproval.
The controversy has prompted the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to summon a Netflix content head on Monday. This summons comes in response to the growing backlash against the series, raising questions about the accuracy and sensitivity of the portrayal.
However, a statement released by the Union Home Minister on January 6, 2006, confirms the aliases used by the terrorists. The statement acknowledges that the hijackers were indeed known by the names ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’ among themselves, lending credence to the series’ depiction.
The hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 remains a chilling chapter in Indian history. On December 24, 1999, the Airbus A300, en route from Kathmandu to Delhi, was hijacked by five masked men shortly after entering Indian airspace. The plane was diverted to Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai, and finally to Kandahar in Afghanistan, which was then under Taliban control.
In Dubai, the hijackers released 27 passengers but tragically injured one and wounded several others. The Taliban’s presence surrounding the plane prevented any Indian military intervention, while the presence of ISI officers on the ground hinted at possible Pakistani support.
The hijacking aimed to secure the release of three Pakistani terrorists – Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Masood Azhar, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar. After a seven-day standoff, India reluctantly agreed to release the terrorists, who have since been linked to various other terrorist attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ features a stellar cast including Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Arvind Swamy, Dia Mirza, and Patralekhaa. The series draws inspiration from ‘Flight Into Fear: The Captain’s Story,’ a book co-authored by Devi Sharan, the captain of the hijacked flight, and journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury. Despite its strong cast and basis in real events, the series has become embroiled in a debate about historical accuracy, sensitivity, and the portrayal of terrorism, with questions lingering about the choices made in depicting the hijacking.
