Controversy Surrounds Netflix Series “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack”
Introduction: The Backlash Against the Series
Netflix’s latest series, “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack,” directed by Anubhav Sinha, has become the center of a heated controversy in India. The series, which started streaming on August 29, 2024, is based on the real-life hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 on December 24, 1999. The hijacking, carried out by five terrorists, is one of the most infamous incidents in India’s history. However, the way the series portrays the hijackers and the events surrounding the hijacking has sparked outrage on social media and led to a political backlash.
The Allegations: Distorting Facts and Names
One of the main points of contention is the portrayal of the hijackers in the series. Social media users, including BJP IT Cell Chief Amit Malviya, have accused the filmmakers of distorting facts and misleading the audience by changing the names of the hijackers to non-Muslim names like ‘Shankar’ and ‘Bhola.’ Critics argue that this change is an attempt to protect the identities of the actual perpetrators, who were all Muslims, and to downplay the religious aspect of the hijacking.
Amit Malviya took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his concerns, stating that the series legitimizes the criminal intent of the hijackers by giving them non-Muslim names. He further alleged that this is part of a larger agenda to rewrite history and whitewash the crimes of Pakistani terrorists, who were all Muslims, by falsely portraying them as Hindus.
Ministry’s Response: Summoning Netflix Officials
In response to the controversy, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken swift action. The Ministry has summoned Netflix’s content head on September 3, 2024, to explain the allegedly contentious aspects of the series. The Ministry’s move comes after a significant backlash on social media, where hashtags like #BoycottNetflix, #BoycottBollywood, and #IC814 trended as users expressed their anger and disappointment.
Defending the Series: The Filmmaker’s Perspective
Amidst the controversy, Mukesh Chhabra, the casting director of the series, defended the filmmakers’ decisions. Chhabra stated that the hijackers used nicknames like ‘Shankar’ and ‘Bhola’ among themselves, and that the series was based on extensive research. He argued that the series does not distort facts but rather depicts the events accurately, using the nicknames that the terrorists allegedly used during the hijacking.
Chhabra’s defense, however, has not quelled the controversy, as many continue to believe that the series deliberately distorts history and serves a biased agenda.
The Historical Event: The 1999 Hijacking of IC-814
The hijacking of IC-814 is a well-documented and deeply traumatic event in Indian history. On December 24, 1999, five terrorists hijacked the Indian Airlines flight IC-814 shortly after it took off from Kathmandu, Nepal, en route to New Delhi, India. The hijackers—identified as Ibrahim Athar, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhter, and Sayed Shakir—held 154 passengers and crew members hostage for eight days. The plane was eventually flown to Kandahar, Afghanistan, where the hijackers demanded the release of three notorious terrorists: Masood Azhar, Omar Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar.
After intense negotiations, the Indian government, led by then External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, agreed to the hijackers’ demands. The three terrorists were released and transported to Kandahar, ending the standoff. The incident left a lasting scar on the nation and is remembered as a dark chapter in India’s fight against terrorism.
The Political Angle: A Clash of Narratives
The controversy surrounding “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack” is not just about the portrayal of events; it also reflects the larger political and religious tensions in India. Some critics, like Amit Malviya, have accused the filmmakers of furthering a “leftist agenda” by allegedly whitewashing the crimes of Muslim terrorists and blaming Hindus for the hijacking. This narrative plays into the broader political discourse in India, where issues of religion and identity are often deeply intertwined with politics.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah offered a different perspective on the controversy. Abdullah pointed out the irony in the situation, noting that the same people who accepted movies like “The Kashmir Files” as the gospel truth are now demanding accuracy and nuance in the depiction of the IC-814 hijacking. Abdullah’s comments highlight the selective outrage that often accompanies such controversies, where different standards of scrutiny are applied depending on the political leanings of the audience.
The Power of Cinema: Influencing Perceptions
One of the key issues at the heart of this controversy is the power of cinema to shape public perceptions. Movies and TV shows often have a profound impact on how people understand and remember historical events. In this case, critics argue that the series’ portrayal of the hijackers could lead to a distorted understanding of the IC-814 hijacking, particularly among younger viewers who may not be familiar with the actual events.
This is why the controversy has gained so much traction on social media. Many people believe that by changing the names of the hijackers and portraying them in a certain light, the series could contribute to a false narrative that could eventually become accepted as fact. This, in turn, could have long-term implications for how history is remembered and interpreted.
The Religious Angle: Divisive Narratives
The controversy also brings to the fore the issue of religious polarization in India. By changing the names of the hijackers, the filmmakers have inadvertently (or perhaps deliberately) touched on the sensitive issue of religious identity. In a country where religious tensions are often high, such changes can easily be interpreted as an attempt to vilify or exonerate a particular community.
Critics like Amit Malviya argue that the series is part of a broader effort to downplay the role of Muslim terrorists and shift the blame onto Hindus. This narrative feeds into existing fears and prejudices, and can be used by political actors to further their own agendas. In this sense, the controversy is not just about the accuracy of the series, but also about the larger battle over how history is told and who gets to control the narrative.
Conclusion: The Ongoing Debate
The controversy surrounding “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack” is unlikely to die down anytime soon. With the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting now involved, the debate over the series’ portrayal of the hijackers and the events of 1999 will continue to play out in the public sphere.
At the heart of the controversy is a fundamental question about the role of cinema in shaping public perceptions and the responsibility of filmmakers to present historical events accurately. As India grapples with its complex and often painful history, controversies like this one are likely to become more common, particularly as political and religious tensions continue to simmer.
Ultimately, the controversy is a reminder of the power of storytelling and the importance of critically engaging with the media we consume. Whether or not one agrees with the portrayal of events in “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack,” the debate it has sparked is a testament to the enduring impact of the hijacking on the Indian psyche and the ongoing struggle to make sense of its legacy.
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/netflix-india-content-head-monika-shergill-ic-814-kandahar-hijack-government-summoned-today-2592555-2024-09-03
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/netflix-indias-head-of-content-summoned-over-ic-814-web-series-row-6471163
https://www.news18.com/opinion/opinion-ic-814-series-row-ecosystem-prisoner-of-aman-ki-asha-sentimentality-9036828.html
