Bringing together cinematic heavyweights like Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, Arvind Swami, Manoj Pahwa, and Kumud Mishra for a single project can often seem like a daunting endeavor. However, Anubhav Sinha, the celebrated filmmaker behind films such as “Mulk” and “Article 15,” has managed to assemble this stellar ensemble, along with talents like Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, and Patralekha, for his upcoming limited series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The series is set to re-examine the harrowing events of the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, an incident that starkly showcased terrorism’s reach into the aviation sector.
The series recounts the dramatic sequence of events when a group of militants hijacked the Delhi-bound aircraft carrying 173 passengers and took it to various destinations before finally landing in Kandahar, Afghanistan. This immersive retelling delves into the emotional and psychological turmoil experienced by the passengers, the intricate maneuvers behind the scenes, and the broader political and ethical implications faced by the Indian government at the time.
A significant highlight of this production is Anubhav Sinha’s rapport with Pankaj Kapur. Their collaborative history spans almost two decades, beginning with the 2005 film Dus and extending to their recent partnership in the socio-political drama Bheed (2023). “Pankaj bhai initially said, ‘Main nahin karunga,’ but I had the feeling he would eventually agree,” Sinha shares, reflecting on their unique working dynamic. Sinha’s confidence was well-placed, as Kapur soon joined the project, adding gravitas to the series with his indomitable screen presence.
However, Sinha was particularly apprehensive about securing commitments from icons like Naseeruddin Shah and Arvind Swami. “I thought convincing Naseer bhai would be challenging because he has shifted his focus primarily to theatre these days,” Sinha admits. To his pleasant surprise, Shah accepted the role eagerly, even before Sinha had finished pitching it. The interaction with Swami was similarly straightforward, but Sinha was initially doubtful whether a mere “okay” during a conference call meant full confirmation. This underscores the unpredictability and sometimes serendipitous nature of casting such acclaimed talent.
Vijay Varma’s involvement also came with a pleasant twist. Varma, renowned for his roles in films like Gully Boy and web series like Mirzapur, was approached to play the role of the pilot flying the ill-fated aircraft.
. Remembering their first meeting, Sinha muses, “I thought we’d send him the script post-discussion, and then he would decide. But two hours later, discussions about dates had already commenced. It caught me off guard, especially since I hadn’t even given him the script yet!”
When Netflix presented Sinha with the opportunity to narrate the story of the Kandahar hijacking, the director realized that there were numerous aspects of the episode that he had not previously been aware of. This newfound curiosity fueled his desire to delve deeper into the incident. “The aircraft landed in Kandahar on the morning of December 25, and the Indian negotiation team only arrived the next day on December 26,” he explains. “At first glance, one might wonder about the delay, but there were multiple layers of domestic complexities to navigate. The authorities were grappling with significant moral, ethical, and political quandaries regarding the potential concessions they could offer to the hijackers.”
The series also illuminates a haunting reality – that the attack might have been preventable. When asked about humanity’s ability to learn from historical events, Sinha offers a sobering perspective. “The human mind seems to resist learning from history; if anything, we tend to exacerbate the situation. Just nine months after IC 814, the tragic events of 9/11 unfolded. This was a period when terrorists were already contemplating using planes as weapons. It’s crucial to stay a step ahead to ensure such tragedies are thwarted in the future, yet similar events continue to occur.”
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack promises to be more than just a thriller; it’s a cerebral investigation into a significant moment of crisis in modern history. This carefully curated cast and Sinha’s direction are set to bring to life the tension, doubt, bravery, and heartbreak that marked those unforgettable days in December 1999.
