Monika Shergill, the content head at Netflix, has been called in by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting due to the controversy surrounding the streaming platform's latest series, "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack," which was released recently. The ministry has summoned her for a meeting on September 3 to address concerns regarding certain contentious elements within the show. ALSO READ: IC 815 The Kandahar Hijack REVIEW: Anubhav Sinha's Show Defines The Edge-Of-The-Seat Experience
"IC 814" dramatizes the real-life hijacking incident that took place in 1999, when an Indian Airlines flight was seized by terrorists who demanded the release of militants in exchange for the safety of the passengers. The five hijackers were identified as members of a Pakistan-based terrorist organization, specifically Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir. However, in the web series directed by Anubhav Sinha, these characters are portrayed with altered names such as 'Bhola' and 'Shankar,' with one even referring to himself as 'Burger.' ALSO READ: Anubhav Sinha Seeks Dia Mirza's Permission Before Putting Hand On Her Shoulder; Netizens Call Him A True Gentleman! - WATCH
Following the show's release, social media erupted with criticism. Users highlighted that while the real hijackers were identified as Muslims after the incident, their names have been changed in the series, leading to accusations against Sinha of distorting historical facts and misleading viewers. Some users pointed out that 'Bhola' and 'Shankar' were indeed used as codenames during the hijacking operation but felt that this context should have been made clearer in the show.
Netflix Content Head has been summoned tomorrow by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting over the 'IC814' web series content row: Sources
— ANI (@ANI) September 2, 2024
BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya weighed in on the issue, asserting that these hijackers were notorious terrorists who adopted aliases to obscure their identities. He claimed that Sinha's portrayal legitimized their criminal actions by using non-Muslim names, suggesting that future generations might mistakenly believe Hindus were responsible for the hijacking. Malviya accused the Left of attempting to whitewash the crimes committed by Pakistani terrorists, emphasizing that cinema has historically been a tool used by leftist ideologies to manipulate narratives. This ongoing debate illustrates the sensitive intersection of media representation and historical truth, particularly in a country with a complex socio-political landscape.
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