Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack found itself in the middle of a controversy after a section of viewers objected to the code names used by the hijackers in the series. The show, which is based on the real-life incident of the 1999 hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight, used the codenames that were used by the hijackers on board – Burger, Doctor, Bhola, Shankar and Chief. There was a row over the names Bhola and Shankar being used in the series. Now, Netflix has announced that they will update the opening disclaimer of the series to include the real-life names of the terrorists along with the codenames.
A statement released by Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content, Netflix India, read, “For the benefit of audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, the opening disclaimer has been updated to include the real and code names of the hijackers. The code names in the series reflect those used during the actual event. India has a rich culture of storytelling and we are committed to showcasing these stories and their authentic representation.”
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In the show directed by Anubhav Sinha, many character names have been changed but the codenames of the terrorists are the same that were used in the real-life incident. The incident was heavily documented at the time with many interviews of the survivors, pilot Captain Devi Sharan Singh and other government officials, and they also recalled the same codenames in their interviews.
On Monday, a PIL filed by Surjit Singh Yadav, requested to ban the public viewing of the series. The plea alleged that the series shows the hijackers having Hindi names Bhola and Shankar, and said that this was historically inaccurate. Many social media users objected to the use of these names and started using hashtags like #BoycottNetflix, #BoycottBollywood and #IC814. However, casting director Mukesh Chhabra defended the series and said that their research was accurate. “I am reading so many tweets about the names of the hijackers. We did the proper research. They used to call each other by those names—nicknames or fake names, whatever you want to call them. And thank you, everyone, for loving the ensemble cast. A big thank you to my team, and especially to Anubhav Sinha for trusting us and giving me the freedom to explore. #IC814 #Netflix,” he wrote on X.
IC814: The Kandahar Hijack is streaming on Netflix.
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