The Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has sparked significant controversy regarding the portrayal of the hijackers, prompting Netflix to update its disclaimer to clarify their real and code names. This change aims to address concerns from audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking incident involving Indian Airlines flight IC 814.
Monika Shergill, Vice President of Content for Netflix India, emphasized the company’s commitment to authentic storytelling and representation in response to feedback from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The updated disclaimer provides context and clarity about the identities of the hijackers, whose names in the series—such as “Bhola” and “Shankar”—were criticized for being misleadingly associated with Hindu culture rather than their actual names: Ibrahim Akhtar, Shahid Akhtar Sayeed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir.
The controversy escalated with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Delhi High Court by Surjit Singh Yadav, leader of the Hindu Sena, seeking a ban on the series. Critics, including BJP leaders Amit Malviya and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, voiced their concerns about the portrayal of the hijackers, arguing that it could mislead viewers into thinking that Hindus were involved in the hijacking, which was actually carried out by terrorists backed by Pakistan’s ISI.
The six-episode series, created by Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Shrivastava, recounts the harrowing events of December 24, 1999, when flight IC 814 was hijacked shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu. The series features notable actors such as Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Arvind Swamy, Patralekhaa, and Dia Mirza.
