Netflix’s content head has been summoned to Delhi by government officials following a public backlash surrounding the streaming platform’s latest series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The series, which dramatizes the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, has sparked widespread controversy for allegedly altering the names of two hijackers to Hindu names.
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is based on the real-life events of the infamous hijacking that saw hundreds of passengers taken hostage as the flight was diverted to several locations before landing in Taliban-controlled Kandahar, Afghanistan. The series, featuring an ensemble cast including Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, and others, depicts the hijackers with codenames Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola, and Shankar. The use of the names Bhola and Shankar has been met with criticism, with many accusing the filmmakers of misrepresentation and potentially inciting religious tensions.
The government’s decision to summon Netflix’s content head follows intense scrutiny and debate on social media, with critics alleging that the series distorts historical facts. The show, directed by Anubhav Sinha, is adapted from the book Flight into Fear: The Captain’s Story by journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury and Devi Sharan, the captain of the hijacked flight.
As discussions continue, the government and Netflix are expected to address these concerns, balancing creative expression with historical accuracy and public sentiment.
