IC 814 The Kandhar Hijack produces controversies

Neyflix, the renowned popular TV show operator, has recently aired a serial movie on the real story of an Indian Airlines aircraft hijacked by terrorists. The flight took off from Thribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal to New Delhi on 24th December, 1999.

As the passengers of Indian Airlines flight 814 board the plane at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, they anticipate an hour-long flight to New Delhi, India. But after the plane hits cruising altitude, five armed men take everyone hostage. The six-episode limited series follows the events that transpire, from the chaos up in the air to the government officials who scramble to control the ordeal. In all, the hijacking lasted seven days. 

There were 179passengers and 11 crew members on board including the hijackers. The plane was forcefully landed at Amritsar (India), Lohore (Pakistan), Dubai (UAE) and Kandahar (Afghanistan).

The incident ends on 31 December, 1999 after releasing Harkat-ul-Mujahiddeen terrorists and free release of the hijackers form Kandahar to proceed to the destination they chose.

The intention for the hijacking was to secure the release of various Pakistani prisoners held under terrorism charges in Indian prisons. India agreed to release three men it had imprisoned for terrorism – – Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Masoos Azhar and Mustaq Ahmad Zargar – – in exchange for the hostages.

The serial was scripted on the basis of a book ‘Flight Into Fear: The Captain’s Story’, authored by Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhary, the captained of the flight and journalist respectively. The book was published in April, 2000.

Director Anubhav Sinha brilliantly sensational situations and turmoil of a nation gripped by fear, hope, and desperation

Vijay Varma as Captain Devi Sharan shines with his performance. He has proved his versatility. The way he captures the immense pressure that the pilot faces is commendable. Dia Mirza as a newspaper editor did a remarkable job.

Patralekhaa as one of the flight attendants shows intensity with her character.

Naseeruddin Shah’s dialogue delivery and acting skills will surely win you over.

Pankaj Kapur brings depth to the narrative. Other cast include Kumud Mishra, Arvind Swami, Manoj Pahwa, AnupamTripathi, Kanwaljeet Singh, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya lend solid support to the gripping tale.

Overall, IC 814 The Kandhar Hijack is a gripping portrayal of the longest hijacking in Indian Aviation history, lasting seven tense days.

The controversy erupted when some viewers accused the series of deliberately fudging the religious identities of the five terrorists involved in the hijacking. The controversy was over “Hindu names” used as aliases by the Pakistani terrorists involved in the hijacking.

A statement issued by India’s home ministry in 2000 confirms that the hijackers used such names as aliases to communicate inside and outside the aircraft.

“To the passengers of the hijacked place these hijackers came to be known respectively as (1) Chief, (2) Doctor, (3) Burger, (4) Bhola, and (5) Shankar, the names by which the hijackers invariably addressed one another,” the statement said.

Many have also defended the series, saying that it is factually accurate.

Witnesses and journalists who reported on the incident have also corroborated this in the past.

After the row, Netflix issued a statement saying it had updated the disclaimer which appears on screen before the episodes begin.

“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,” it said.

Moreover, the story strongly indicated weak security system in TIA, which later, improved to a better quality adding security devices, human resources and mythologies.