IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack Controversy: Netflix promises to ‘review content’, ensures to be ‘sensitive’ towards India’s sentiments in statement over Vijay Varma starrer

As a die-hard fan of gripping dramas that delve deep into our nation’s history, I must say, I was captivated by Anubhav Sinha’s Netflix series “IC: 814 The Kandahar Hijack“. However, amidst the suspense and tension, a storm of controversy brewed, leaving me both intrigued and disheartened.

Discussion about Anubhav Sinha’s Netflix series “IC: 814 The Kandahar Hijack” has sparked controversy due to the use of Hindu names for the hijackers. On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, Monika Shergill, the Head of Content at Netflix India, met with a senior official from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to address these concerns. During this meeting at Shastri Bhawan, they discussed the contentious elements of the series, which is based on the real-life hijacking of IC-814. The streaming service has now vowed to reevaluate its content in response to these issues.

Discussion Arises Over Anubhav Sinha’s Netflix Show IC: 814 The Kandahar Hijack Due to the Use of Hindu Names for Hijackers: On September 3, 2024, Monika Shergill, Head of Content at Netflix India, attended a meeting with the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The purpose of the meeting was to address concerns about the portrayal in the series, which is inspired by the hijacking of IC-814, as it had given Hindu names to the depicted hijackers. In response, Shergill confirmed that Netflix would conduct a reevaluation of the sensitive content presented in the show.

Netflix has promised to carefully examine and adjust their content, making sure that all future productions on their platform are mindful of and respect the feelings of the nation, as well as being age-appropriate for children.

According to the latest news, Netflix plans to tackle matters concerning age-suitable content and national security. They will keep everyone informed about their strategies for handling these challenges.

For those new to it, the show has caused debate on social media because of its portrayal and code names of the hijackers. Although the real hijackers were identified as Muslims after the 1999 incident, the series uses Hindu names for them instead. It’s important to mention that ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’ are just their fictional codenames. Some viewers believe that the creators should have made it clear in the series that these names were not the hijackers’ real ones.

In the aftermath of the 1999 hijacking event, it was discovered that the perpetrators were five individuals: Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir. These individuals were found to be connected to a terrorist group based in Pakistan.

Following the airing of the web series on August 29, 2024, there was a strong reaction from online users criticizing the use of Hindu codenames for the hijacker characters. Moreover, Surjit Singh Yadav, the leader of Hindu Sena, submitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Delhi High Court aiming to prohibit IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The PIL argues that the series distorts the true identities of the terrorists who were involved in the hijacking incident.

This six-part dramatic series boasts an ensemble of talented actors such as Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Arvind Swamy, Patralekhaa, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, and Dia Mirza.

The show’s plot is centered around the occurrences of December 24, 1994, when Indian Airlines flight IC 814, which was on a journey from Kathmandu to Delhi, was seized following takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal and entering Indian airspace.

2024-09-03 12:08

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