Mumbai: A storm of controversy has erupted online following the release of the crime thriller drama mini-series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack.’ Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the six-episode series revisits the harrowing hijacking incident of Indian Airlines Flight 814. The mini-series has come under heavy fire for its perceived narrative choices and factual inaccuracies, with various critics accusing it of distorting history and misrepresenting key details of the event.
The story of the hijacking involves six terrorists—identified as Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmad Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir—affiliated with the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen terrorist group. In December 1999, these men commandeered Flight 814, demanding the release of three Pakistani terrorists held in Indian prisons: Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Masood Azhar, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar.
Despite the tense seven-day ordeal and the eventual release of the prisoners to secure the safety of the passengers, ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ has now found itself at the center of a public relations crisis. Social media platforms have been flooded with accusations of “whitewashing” the role of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, and allegations that the series humanizes the very terrorists responsible for the hijacking.
One particularly vocal critic wrote on X, “Kandahar flight hijackers’ original names: Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar, Sunny Ahmed, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir. Anubhav Sinha hijacker web series ‘IC 814’ depicted them as Bhola, Shankar. This is how whitewashing is done cinematically.” Another critique echoed a similar sentiment, “The hijackers of IC814 were lethal, cruel—to even attempt to show some of them as human in the Netflix series is unfair.”
Adding fuel to the fire, another post on X stated, “I noticed that too and was extremely surprised. Not a cool thing to do. I wonder how the @NetflixIndia team can be so reckless to let this happen.”
However, these allegations are complicated by an official report from the Ministry of External Affairs dated January 2000, which indicates that the hijackers used code names—Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola, and Shankar—when addressing each other. This seeming discrepancy has added another layer of complexity to the debate.
Journalist-writer-lyricist Neelesh Misra, author of “173 Hours in Captivity: The Hijacking of IC814,” took to his X account to address these controversies. His post read, “Shankar, Bhola, Burger, Doctor, and the Chief, the brother of then-jailed Masood Azhar himself. All the hijackers assumed false names.
. That is how they referred to each other and how the passengers referred to them throughout the hijacking. Regards, the author of the first book on the IC-814 hijacking.”
The hijacking incident remains one of the most traumatic episodes in Indian aviation history. Lasting seven excruciating days, the crisis culminated in India conceding to the terrorists’ demand to ensure the safe return of the passengers. Even years later, the ordeal remains fresh in the public memory and any representation of it is subject to immense scrutiny.
Critics argue that the series not only distorts facts but also potentially undermines the gravity of the incident by altering the identities and backgrounds of the hijackers. “This is a gross misrepresentation of history,” said a commentator on a popular social media platform. “How can you change such fundamental details and expect to provide an accurate account?”
The director and producers of ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ have so far refrained from issuing a public statement in response to the backlash. Yet, the dialogue amongst netizens continues to erupt, with many calling for a revision or retraction of the series. “Netflix owes it to the victims and the families involved to portray the incident truthfully,” said another user.
Notably, the original hijackers’ use of pseudonyms adds a layer of interpretational complexity to this debacle. According to Misra’s account, the code names had a specific purpose and context, designed to maintain anonymity and avoid detection while the crisis unfolded.
Nevertheless, the societal pulse indicates a significant discomfort with any form of artistic license when depicting such sensitive events. “There are lines you simply shouldn’t cross,” argued a social media influencer with a sizable following. “And distorting names and religions of terrorists absolutely crosses that line.”
In conclusion, ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ continues to trail a storm of indignation, with voices from all quarters condemning the series for perceived historical inaccuracies and questionable artistic choices. As more viewers weigh in, the debate over authenticity, representation, and the ethical responsibilities of creative productions shows no sign of abating. The ongoing social media furor highlights the delicate balance that must be struck when dramatizing real-world tragedies, a balance that, according to critics, seems to have been missed by this controversial mini-series.
