According to Monika Shergill, Netflix is dedicated to presenting Indian narrative and its genuine portrayal, as the country has a strong storytelling tradition.
OTT platform Netflix India said on Tuesday that it has amended the series’ opening disclaimer to include both the true and code names of the hijackers in response to the uproar surrounding the recently launched web drama “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack.”
“The real and code names of the hijackers have been added to the opening disclaimer for the benefit of viewers who are not familiar with the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814. The content executive of OTT provider Netflix India, Monika Shergill, stated in a statement that “the code names in the series reflect those used during the actual event.”
She also added that “we are committed to showcasing these stories and their authentic representation” and that “India has a rich culture of storytelling.”
The Netflix Content head was called by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on September 3 in response to the negative feedback on the show.
What is IC 814- The Kandahar Hijack Controversy?
Many users of X uploaded photos with the hashtags #BoycottNetflix, #BoycottBollywood, and #IC814, alleging the creators had altered the identities of the hijackers to ‘Shankar’ and ‘Bhola’ in order to protect the terrorists who were members of a particular community.
Based on the December 24, 1999, hijacking of Indian Airlines IC-814 by five terrorists, which occurred just 40 minutes after the aircraft took off from Kathmandu, is the Anubhav Sinha television serial.
It has circled the debate, to which several political figures have also responded, and went live on Netflix on August 29.
Internet users have branded Anubhav Sinha’s writing as “propaganda” and accused him of purposefully falsifying the facts.
“Nobody has the right to play with the sentiments of the people of this nation,” the government-cited report from ANI said in response to a question about why the head of Netflix was called. Respect for India’s culture and civilisation is a must. You ought to consider your options before incorrectly depicting anything.
On December 24, 1999, while IC-814 was travelling from Kathmandu to Delhi, five terrorists—Ibrahim Athar, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhter, and Sayed Shakir—hijacked the aircraft.
For eight days, at least 154 passengers and crew members were kept captive. The release of hardline terrorists Masood Azhar, Omar Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar brought an end to the impasse. Jaswant Singh, the minister of external affairs, then flew them to Kandahar in a dedicated aircraft.
Playing With the sentiments of Indians
Ms. Shergill had been called by the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry as a result of the demonstrations. According to sources who spoke to NDTV, she was called because the government is treating the situation “very seriously” and “nobody has the right to play with the sentiments of the Indian people.”
Following a more than hour-long meeting between Netflix India representatives and government representatives earlier today, insiders told NDTV that the streaming giant will include those “sentiments” into future material.
Amit Malviya, the head of BJP’s social media division, launched a scathing post on X, charging the show’s writers with attempting to cover up the terrorists’ illegal acts in Pakistan by giving them Hindu identities.
Opposition figures, such as former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Shiv Sena (UBT) member Priyanka Chaturvedi, questioned the selective anger and cited historical mistakes in other controversial TV shows and films released in recent months.
People are demanding to Boycott Netflix.
Netflix’s IC- 814 Story
The events on flight IC-814 and on the ground in Delhi and Kandahar, as well as Devi Sharan’s book “Flight Into Fear: The Captain’s Story,” which chronicled his experiences as the plane’s captain, served as inspiration for the Netflix adaptation.
Pankaj Kapoor and Nasiruddin Shah are seen in the lead roles in IC 814 Kandahar Hijack.
Shubhangi Gupta is a distinguished content writer and the visionary founder of The Unpleasant – Acha Nahi Sabse Sacha. With a Master’s degree in Commerce from University of Lucknow, Shubhangi has seamlessly blended her academic background with her passion for reading and writing, embarking on a successful career as a content writer since 2019.
