Netflix India Faces Government Summons Over 'IC 814' Series Controversy
Netflix’s latest series, ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’, has ignited a social media storm by allegedly changing the names of two hijackers to Hindu names, leading to accusations of misrepresentation.
The controversy escalated when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting summoned Netflix India’s content head, Monika Shergill, to Delhi. According to top sources reported by India Today, Shergill has been directed to appear before the ministry on Tuesday, September 2, to clarify the issues surrounding the series.
‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ revisits the infamous 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 by the Pakistan-based terror group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. It recounts the ordeal faced by the passengers and the government’s struggle as the plane was diverted to various locations before finally landing in Taliban-controlled Kandahar, Afghanistan.
In the series, the hijackers are portrayed with the codenames Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola, and Shankar. However, the use of Hindu-sounding names such as Bhola and Shankar has sparked a backlash, with many alleging that the filmmakers deliberately selected these names, thereby distorting historical facts and potentially stoking religious tensions.
The debate has triggered a strong reaction online, with critics accusing the series’ director, Anubhav Sinha, of manipulating the narrative. The series, which is an adaptation of the book Flight into Fear: The Captain’s Story by journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury and the flight’s captain, Devi Sharan, features prominent actors including Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, Arvind Swami, Anupam Tripathi, Dia Mirza, Patralekhaa, Amrita Puri, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, and Kumud Mishra.
Political Reactions to ‘IC 814’ Series
The political controversy surrounding the series has also intensified. BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya criticised the show on social media platform X, claiming that the hijackers, who were “dreaded terrorists,” were given Hindu aliases to hide their Muslim identities.
“Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha legitimised their criminal intent by furthering their non-Muslim names,” Malviya tweeted. He added, “Decades later, people will think Hindus hijacked IC-814.”
On the other hand, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah mocked the outrage, saying it was “amusing to see people who took movies like ‘Kashmir Files’ as gospel truth now demanding accuracy and nuance in the script of ‘IC 814’.”
This controversy has intensified the ongoing debate about the representation of sensitive historical events in popular media, with many calling for a more balanced and accurate portrayal.
The uproar around ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ raises questions about the boundaries of creative expression and the responsibilities of filmmakers in handling real-life events that continue to resonate emotionally and politically with the audience.
The unfolding situation highlights the complexities of retelling historical events through a fictional lens. As the government seeks an explanation from Netflix India, the debate over ‘IC 814’ is far from over. Will this series manage to strike a balance between creative freedom and factual accuracy? Time will tell.
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