Centre and Netflix in Dialogue Over IC 814 Series: Concerns About National Sentiments
The government has called in Netflix’s head of content to discuss the series IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack, expressing concerns that its depiction of the hijackers could potentially upset national sentiments.
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Netflix India has pledged to align its future content with the "nation's sentiments," according to sources. This commitment follows controversy surrounding its web series IC 814 Kandahar Hijack.
The series, which revisits the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by the Pakistan-based militant group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, has sparked significant backlash. The controversy led to a detailed discussion between Netflix and the Indian government.
Directed by Anubhav Sinha and released on August 29, the show has faced criticism for its portrayal of the hijackers, who are given names such as "Bhola" and "Shankar," which some believe distort historical facts and insult Hindu sentiments. Critics argue that these names, associated with Lord Shiva, misrepresent the terrorists’ real identities.
The release has also prompted heated debates on social media, with hashtags like #BoycottNetflix and #BoycottBollywood trending. BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya has accused the filmmakers of attempting to obscure the terrorists' true identities by assigning them Hindu names. Conversely, figures like former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Shiv Sena-UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi have criticized the selective outrage, highlighting inconsistencies in the calls for historical accuracy in cinema.
In addition, the upcoming film Emergency, starring Kangana Ranaut as former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and focusing on the 1975-77 emergency period, has also come under scrutiny. The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has raised objections, leading to a delay in the film’s release as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reviews the concerns. Ranaut has criticized the delay, describing it as "hugely demotivating and unjust" for filmmakers addressing historical events.
