Netflix’s web series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ has found itself at the center of controversy in India, prompting the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (IB Ministry) to summon the platform’s content head on September 3. This action follows widespread criticism on social media, with users alleging the series misrepresents the 1999 hijacking incident.
The controversy erupted on September 1 when users on X (formerly Twitter) accused the series of ‘hiding the real identities of the terrorists involved.’ They pointed to the use of fictional names like ‘Shankar’ and ‘Bhola’ for the hijackers, alleging this was an attempt to protect individuals from a specific community. This led to calls for a boycott of Netflix and Bollywood using hashtags like #BoycottNetflix, #BoycottBollywood and #IC814.
The show’s casting director, Mukesh Chhabra, responded to these accusations on the same day, stating that the hijackers used nicknames amongst themselves and that extensive research was conducted for the series.
‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’, directed by Anubhav Sinha, recounts the real-life event of the December 24, 1999, hijacking of an Indian aircraft by five terrorists shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu. The series, which began streaming on August 29, features a star-studded cast including Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Arvind Swamy, Dia Mirza, and Patralekhaa.
The 1999 hijacking incident involved five terrorists – Ibrahim Athar, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhter, and Sayed Shakir – who seized control of the IC-814 aircraft en route from Kathmandu to Delhi. The hijackers held 154 passengers and crew hostage for eight days. The standoff culminated in the release of terrorists Masood Azhar, Omar Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar in exchange for the hostages. Then External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh personally escorted them on a special plane to Kandahar.
The summons to Netflix’s content head signifies the Indian government’s seriousness regarding the controversy. The platform’s response to the ministry’s concerns and the public criticism will be closely watched.
