As a dedicated follower of historical dramas and a firm believer in artistic freedom, I find myself both intrigued and slightly concerned by the recent developments surrounding IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack on Netflix. Having spent countless hours immersed in various periods and events throughout history, I’ve come to appreciate the complexities that often surround such stories, particularly when they touch upon sensitive subjects.
In response to a summons from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting regarding the contentious title “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack,” Netflix India’s content chief has issued an official statement. Monika Shergill, Vice President (Content) of the streaming service, explained that to help viewers who might not be familiar with the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, the opening disclaimer has been modified to include both the actual and code names of the hijackers.
Monika’s statement to the media continued, “The code names in our series mirror those used during real-life incidents. We are deeply rooted in India’s storytelling tradition and are dedicated to presenting these tales authentically.” Monika was called in on September 3 following a series of criticism about the show that led to an unspecified Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
As a devoted follower, if you’ve been unaware, the controversy started on social media with intense boycott demands aimed at the showrunners, urging them to revise the names of the hijackers from Shankar and Bhola to their authentic ones. The issue stemmed from accusations that the masterminds behind the IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack were trying to shield terrorists who hailed from a specific community, an action perceived as hurtful.
Under the guidance of Anubhav Sinha, this gripping series is set around the heart-wrenching incident on December 24, 1999 – the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 by a group of five terrorists. The hijackers, Ibrahim Athar, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhter, and Sayed Shakir, seized control of the plane approximately 40 minutes after takeoff from Kathmandu, with the flight initially heading towards Delhi.
For those unfamiliar, over a span of eight consecutive days, at least 154 passengers and crew found themselves in a hostage situation. Their captors demanded the release of three terrorists: Masood Azhar, Omar Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar. To learn what followed this ordeal, tune into IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, now streaming exclusively on Netflix.
According to reports from official sources, quoted by ANI, it was stated that “No one is permitted to manipulate the emotions of our country’s citizens. The Indian culture and civilization must always be treated with reverence. Care should be taken to avoid misrepresenting anything.” This implies that Netflix’s leadership was called in due to concerns about a potential disrespect or misrepresentation of India’s culture or sentiments in their content.
Movie IC 814 features actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, and Arvind Swamy (and numerous others).
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2024-09-03 17:38