Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has voiced her strong disapproval of the creators behind Vijay Varma's recently released web series, "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack." The series has ignited considerable controversy, particularly due to the decision to assign Hindu names—'Bhola' and 'Shankar'—to the hijackers. This choice has drawn significant backlash, especially since the real-life hijackers involved in the 1999 incident were identified as Muslims after the event. ALSO READ: IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack Controversy: Netflix Content Head Summoned Over Showing Terrorists Identifying Themselves As 'Bhola' And 'Shankar'
Social media users have been vocal in their criticism, accusing director Anubhav Sinha of distorting historical facts and misleading viewers. In response to the uproar, Kangana took to her X account to express her concerns. She accused the filmmakers of manipulating real events to align with what she termed "politically motivated sinister motives." Furthermore, she lamented the challenges faced by filmmakers who aim to portray historical truths, suggesting that they often encounter censorship. ALSO READ: IC 815 The Kandahar Hijack REVIEW: Anubhav Sinha's Show Defines The Edge-Of-The-Seat Experience
Kangana's comments come at a time when her own film, "Emergency," which focuses on the life of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has been postponed due to demands from the censor board for multiple cuts. In her post, she highlighted the apparent double standards in content regulation on OTT platforms, stating, "The law of the land allows for an unimaginable amount of violence and nudity without consequence, yet filmmakers who wish to uphold national integrity face barriers." She emphasized that while leftist ideologies seem to flourish in creative expression, those with nationalist viewpoints are often stifled. This perceived inequality in censorship has left her feeling demotivated and unjustly treated.
Law of the land is that one can show unimaginable amount of violence and nudity on OTT platforms without any consequence or censorship, one can even distort real life events to suit their politically motivated sinister motives, there is all the freedom for communists or leftists… https://t.co/BRRrG6NGXh
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 2, 2024
The series itself recounts one of India’s longest hijack incidents, where an Indian Airlines flight was taken over by terrorists demanding the release of militants in exchange for the safe return of passengers. The actual hijackers were identified as members of a Pakistan-based terrorist organization, including individuals like Ibrahim Athar and Shahid Akhtar Sayed. However, in "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack," they are depicted using altered names, which has further fueled audience discontent and raised questions about Sinha’s creative choices.
The show features a talented cast including Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Patralekhaa, Dia Mirza, and Arvind Swamy, and it premiered on Netflix on August 29. As the controversy unfolds, it highlights the delicate balance between artistic freedom and historical accuracy in storytelling.
Image Source: Twitter