IC 814 Controversy: Netflix India’s content head summoned over alteration of hijackers’ names in Vijay Varma starrer series; Reports

IC 814 Controversy: Netflix India’s content head summoned over alteration of hijackers' names in Vijay Varma starrer series; Reports

As a lifestyle expert with a keen interest in history and a deep appreciation for authentic storytelling, I find myself deeply troubled by the recent controversy surrounding the Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. Having grown up during those tumultuous times, I remember the fear and uncertainty that gripped our nation as the plane was hijacked.


The latest Netflix thriller series titled IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, starring Vijay Verma as the main character, was just released. Yet, upon its debut, it sparked a considerable uproar, leading to the Indian government calling in Netflix India’s content head for discussion. This move followed a barrage of criticisms on social media, with many viewers alleging that the show’s creators had changed the names of the hijackers.

According to a report from news agency ANI, the Head of Content at Netflix India has been called in by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting due to a dispute over the changing of terrorist names in the series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. In actuality, the hijackers were named Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, and Shakir. However, the series presents altered names like ‘Shankar,’ ‘Bhola,’ as well as titles such as ‘Chief,’ ‘Doctor,’ and ‘Burger.’

The call to action arrives at a time when there’s an increasing movement on social media site X (previously known as Twitter). Here, users have been advocating for a boycott of the show IC 814. Critics employ hashtags like #IC814, #BoycottNetflix, and #BoycottBollywood to claim that the series intentionally changes the names of the four hijackers. They label it as ‘propaganda’ and assert that Anubhav Sinha manipulates historical truths.

This web series, created by Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Srivastava, is influenced by the book “Flight Into Fear: The Captain’s Story” written by Devi Sharan, the flight captain, and journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury. In it, prominent actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma, and Pankaj Kapur portray key roles. This series recreates the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 on December 24, 1999, which serves as its main storyline.

191 passengers were aboard an airplane that departed from Kathmandu, Nepal, destined for Delhi. Not long after taking off, a group of five individuals, masquerading as passengers, took over the plane. The flight then made several stops in Amritsar, Lahore, and Dubai before being redirected to Kandahar, Afghanistan. In an effort to free the hostages, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, consented to release three prisoners: Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar from Indian prisons.

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2024-09-02 11:37