IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack – A Look at the Plot and the Controversies
Since the release of the Netflix series, IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack has gained a lot of attention from the fans as well as the critics. Conceived and directed by Anubhav Sinha, this six part series fictionalizes the real life hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight in 1999 that went down in Indian aviation history. In this article, the author discusses the storyline of the series and the issues that have emerged in the fans, media, and social networks.
Plot Overview
IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack is a real life telling of the Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 which was hijacked on 24th December 1999 immediately after it had taken off from Kathmandu, Nepal. The plane which had about 180 passengers and crew was redirected to Amritsar, Lahore and finally to Kandahar in Afghanistan where the Taliban regime ruled. The hijackers asked for the release of terrorists detained in India in return for the lives of the hostages, and the situation was resolved in eight days of stand-off.
The web series is inspired by the book Flight into Fear by Captain Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury giving a first-hand experience of the hostage’s mental and physical torture. It does not only portray the confusion and turbulence in the airplane but also the politics and espionage taking place on the ground. The story is supported by the use of real scenes and newsreels, which makes the show more like a documentary, but at the same time, it has a thrilling plot that will not let the viewers get bored.
Some of the actors include Vijay Varma who portrays Captain Devi Sharan, Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah and Dia Mirza who all give stellar performances that enrich the story. The critics have applauded the series on the basis of the plot, the characters and the ethical issues are depicted in the series.
Controversies and Fan Reactions
However, the success that IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack received from the critics has not been without controversies. There has been a lot of debate on social media especially concerning the depiction of the hijackers. Some of the viewers have complained that the terrorists are depicted as ‘Shankar’ and ‘Bhola,’ which are Hindi names, thus, ‘whitewashing’ the terrorists.
Critics of the series have questioned the authenticity of the names used in the series especially the casting director Mukesh Chhabra who defended that the names were used by the hijackers as aliases. Chhabra also pointed out that the cast of characters was researched to the extent that the names were actually a part of the hijackers’ code name.
However, this has sparked trending hashtags such as #BoycottIC814 and #boycottNetflix on X (known as Twitter) where people are encouraged to boycott the series due to what they consider as Hinduphobia and historical distortion.
The issue has not only created division among the fans but has also attracted the attention of the different media that has reported the increasing dissatisfaction. Some of the viewers believe that the series should have been more realistic and should have depicted events as they were while others opine that it is okay for certain liberties to be taken since it is a drama series.
In Short
IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack is one of the most important narratives that exposes a hitherto untold story of Indian aviation tragedy. Despite positive reception of the film’s narrative and the actors, the issues with the portrayal of the hijackers are a good example of the challenges of translating a true story into a movie. While the discussions are still ongoing on social media and news websites, it is beyond doubt that the series has initiated a discussion about representation, historical truth, and the role of directors and screenwriters in depicting historical events.
When the audiences are watching this series, it is still unknown how these controversies are going to affect the show and its popularity. However, IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack has become a significant piece that provides both entertainment and food for thought as well as a subject of debate over the portrayed events and their relevance in today’s world.
