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The controversy surrounding Netflix's web series 'IC-814 - The Kandahar Hijack' has escalated, leading to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting summoning the streaming giant's Content Head. The series, based on the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by the Pakistan-based terror outfit Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, has come under fire for its portrayal of the hijackers.
The crux of the controversy lies in the names given to the hijackers in the series. Several social media users, including BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya, have accused the makers of deliberately changing the names to 'Bhola' and 'Shankar', suggesting a deliberate attempt to downplay the hijackers' Muslim identities. Malviya further alleged that the series legitimizes the hijackers' actions and could potentially mislead viewers into believing Hindus were responsible for the hijacking.
The series, directed by Anubhav Sinha, is based on the book 'Flight Into Fear: The Captain's Story' by Devi Sharan, the captain of the flight, and journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury. It revolves around the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight 814 on December 24, 1999, which began in Kathmandu, Nepal, and ended in Kandahar, Afghanistan, after multiple stops. During the hijacking, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was forced to release three notorious terrorists—Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar—from Indian prisons to secure the release of the hostages. The hijackers were later identified as Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, and Shakir. The controversy underscores the complex intersection of history, identity, and the portrayal of real-life events in entertainment. It raises questions about artistic freedom, historical accuracy, and the responsibility of content creators in shaping public perception.
Source: ’IC814’ web series content row: IB Ministry summons Netflix Content Head