View source for IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack

{{Short description|2024 Indian television series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = IC 814 - The Kandahar Hijack.jpg
| image_size           = 
| alt                  = 
| caption              = Promotional release poster
| genre                = [[Thriller (genre)|Thriller]]<br/>[[Drama (film and television)|Drama]]
| based_on             = {{based on|Flight Into Fear
The Captain's Story|[[Devi Sharan]] and Srinjoy Chowdhury}}
| creator              = [[Anubhav Sinha]]<br>Trishant Srivastava
| writer               = {{ubl|[[Adrian Levy]]|Trishant Srivastava}}
| director             = Anubhav Sinha
| starring             = {{plainlist|
* [[Vijay Varma]]
* [[Naseeruddin Shah]]
* [[Pankaj Kapur]]
* [[Dia Mirza]]
* [[Arvind Swamy]]
}}
| narrated             = 
| theme_music_composer = 
| composer             = Alex Lamy<br>Richard Harvey
| country              = India
| language             = Hindi
| num_seasons          = 1
| num_episodes         = 6
| executive_producer   = 
| producer             = Sarita Patil<br/>Sanjay Routray<br>Anubhav Sinha
| cinematography       = [[Ewan Mulligan]]<br/>Ravi Kiran Ayyagari
| editor               = Amarjit Singh
| camera               = [[Multi-camera]]
| runtime              = 28-46 mins
| company              = [[Matchbox Shots]]<br/>Benaras Mediaworks
| channel              = [[Netflix]]
| released             = {{Start date|df=y|2024|8|29}}
| opentheme            = 
}}
'''''IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack''''' is 2024 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[Thriller film|crime thriller]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] television mini series about the hijacking of [[Indian Airlines Flight 814]] in 1999. It is directed by [[Anubhav Sinha]] and written by [[Adrian Levy]] and Trishant Srivastava.<ref>{{cite web | title=IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack | website=BBFC | date=29 August 2024 | url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdizodu5 | access-date=29 August 2024 | archive-date=29 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829181828/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdizodu5 | url-status=live }}</ref> Produced by Sarita Patil and Sanjay Routray under [[Matchbox Shots]] and Benaras Mediaworks, it stars an ensemble cast led by [[Vijay Varma]], [[Naseeruddin Shah]], [[Pankaj Kapur]], [[Dia Mirza]] and [[Arvind Swamy]].<ref>{{cite news |title=IC814 The Kandahar Hijack: Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza and Naseeruddin Shah star in hard-hitting series on India's longest hijack |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/ic814-the-kandahar-hijack-vijay-varma-dia-mirza-and-naseeruddin-shah-star-in-hard-hitting-series-on-indias-longest-hijack-9187877/ |access-date=17 June 2024 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=29 February 2024 |language=en |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819085220/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/ic814-the-kandahar-hijack-vijay-varma-dia-mirza-and-naseeruddin-shah-star-in-hard-hitting-series-on-indias-longest-hijack-9187877/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma to lead Anubhav Sinha's 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack'; first look pictures out |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/naseeruddin-shah-vijay-varma-to-lead-anubhav-sinhas-ic814-the-kandahar-hijack-first-look-pictures-out/article67899114.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=29 February 2024 |access-date=29 August 2024 |archive-date=29 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829181832/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/naseeruddin-shah-vijay-varma-to-lead-anubhav-sinhas-ic814-the-kandahar-hijack-first-look-pictures-out/article67899114.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Ninad Kamat]] serves as narrator.  

The series premiered globally on [[Netflix]] on 29 August 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title='IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' to release on Netflix on August 29, teaser out |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-to-release-on-netflix-on-august-29-teaser-out/article68480702.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=3 August 2024 |access-date=29 August 2024 |archive-date=21 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821124005/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-to-release-on-netflix-on-august-29-teaser-out/article68480702.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> It was the most watched show on [[Netflix]] for the first week of September.<ref>{{cite web |title=IC 816: The Kandahar Hijack most watched web series for two weeks straight, says Ormax report|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-most-watched-web-series-for-two-weeks-straight-says-ormax-report/cid/2047036|website=The Telegraph |language=en-IN |date=10 September 2024 |access-date=12 September 2024}}</ref>

== Plot ==
On Christmas eve in 1999, passengers board Indian Airlines flight 814 in Kathmandu, Nepal. As the plane makes its usual short-haul journey back to New Delhi, five Pakistani terrorists take over the flight, demanding the release of militants held in an Indian prison. IC 814 makes several stops in Amritsar, Lahore, and Dubai, before ending up in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where they are then confronted by the Taliban.

== Cast ==

=== IC 814 Crew ===
* [[Vijay Varma]] as Captain Sharan Dev, pilot-in-command of [[IC 814]] (anagram of Devi Sharan)
* Karan Desai as First Officer Sunil Sachdeva, co-pilot of IC-814 (based on Rajinder Kumar)
* Girish Dhaneja as Flight Engineer Rajendra Nangia (based on Anil Jaggia)
* [[Mohit Shewani]] as Flight Purser Arun Kapoor (based on chief flight attendant Anil Sharma)
* [[Additi Gupta]] as Air Hostess Chhaya
* [[Patralekha]] as Air Hostess Indrani

=== IC 814 passengers ===

* Nikhil Angrish as Rupesh (based on Rupin Katiyal)

=== IC 814 hijackers ===

*Harry Parmar as Amjad Farooqui alias "Doctor" (hijacker)
*Diljhon Singh as Sunny Ahmed Qazi alias "Burger" (hijacker)
*[[Rajiv Thakur]] as Ibrahim Akhtar alias "Chief" (hijacker)
*Kunal Chopra as Zahoor Mistry alias "Bhola" (hijacker)
* Kamal Batra as Shakir alias "Shankar" (hijacker)

=== Miscellaneous ===
* [[Naseeruddin Shah]] as [[Cabinet Secretary (India)|Cabinet Secretary]] Vinay Kaul, [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]] (based on [[Prabhat Kumar]])
* [[Pankaj Kapur]] as Vijaybhan Singh, [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of External Affairs]] (based on [[Jaswant Singh]])
* [[Arvind Swamy]] as [[Foreign Secretary (India)|Foreign Secretary]] D.R.Sivaramakrishnan aka DRS, [[Indian Foreign Service|IFS]]
* [[Dia Mirza]] as Shalini "Sha" Chandra, Editor of [[Times of India|India Headlines]]
* [[Kumud Mishra]] as Ranjan Mishra, Joint Secretary of [[Research and Analysis Wing|R&AW]] (based on Anand Arni)
* [[Manoj Pahwa]] as Mukul Mohan, Additional Director of [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|IB]]
* Ujjawal Gauraha as Sarwar Mallik
* [[Aditya Srivastava]] as V K Agarwal, Head of [[Research and Analysis Wing|R&AW]] (based on [[A. S. Dulat]])
* [[Amrita Puri]] as Nandini Martin, Reporter of India Headlines newspaper
* [[Dibyendu Bhattacharya]] as Abhijeet Kumar, senior officer in [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|MEA]]
* [[Pooja Gor]] as Simar Dev, Sharan's wife
* [[Kanwaljit Singh (actor)|Kanwaljit Singh]] as J P Kohli, Director of [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|IB]]
* [[Anupam Tripathi]] as Ram Chandra Yadav, [[Research and Analysis Wing|R&AW agent]] in [[Kathmandu]]
* [[Yashpal Sharma (actor)|Yashpal Sharma]] as Sanjay Mehta, Assistant Director of [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|IB]]
* [[Sushant Singh]] as [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lt. General]] Ravi Shankar, [[Director General of the National Security Guard|Director General of NSG]] (cameo appearance)
* Mu'azzam Bhat as [[Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil]], [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Afghanistan)|Foreign Minister of Afghanistan]]
* Asif Ali as Usmani
* Meer Sadhwani as Nabibullah Barkazai
* [[Ninad Kamat]] as Narrator

== Production ==
The series is adapted from the book ''Flight Into Fear'' by Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Naman |title=Anubhav Sinha Talks Taking Flight With Netflix's 'IC 814' Hijack Drama (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/anubhav-sinha-ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-netflix-1236116242/ |website=Variety |date=26 August 2024 |access-date=29 August 2024 |archive-date=27 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827120413/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/anubhav-sinha-ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-netflix-1236116242/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2023, a series on [[Amazon Prime Video]] was canceled due to the [[Tandav (TV series)#Controversy|Tandav]] controversy.<ref>{{cite web | title=Vishal Bhardwaj reveals Prime Video dropped his Kandahar hijacking project after Tandav: 'They were paranoid, wanted nothing political' | website=The Indian Express | date=17 December 2023 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/vishal-bhardwaj-reveals-prime-video-dropped-his-kandahar-hijacking-project-after-tandav-they-were-paranoid-wanted-nothing-political-9071879/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Spoke to Vishal Bhardwaj about my take on Kandahar hijacking, he approved of it: Anubhav Sinha | website=Hindustan Times | date=19 August 2024 | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/spoke-to-vishal-bhardwaj-about-my-take-on-kandahar-hijacking-he-approved-of-it-anubhav-sinha-101724073334557.html}}</ref>

In February 2024, the series was announced on [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Naman |title=Netflix Unveils Star-Studded 2024 India Slate |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/netflix-2024-india-1235926247/ |website=Variety |date=29 February 2024 |access-date=29 August 2024 |archive-date=6 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306145605/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/netflix-2024-india-1235926247/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The trailer of this series was released on 19 August 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Naman |title=High-Stakes Netflix Drama 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' From Anubhav Sinha Unveils Trailer (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/asia/netflix-ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-trailer-1236108908/ |website=Variety |date=19 August 2024 |access-date=29 August 2024 |archive-date=29 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829181836/https://variety.com/2024/tv/asia/netflix-ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-trailer-1236108908/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Asian News International]] filed suit in India against Netflix in September 2024 for alleged use of their copyrighted material in the film footage.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian news agency ANI sues Netflix for using its content in hijack drama |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/ani-news-agency-files-suit-against-netflix-using-its-content-indian-hijack-drama-2024-09-09/ |publisher=Reuters |access-date=18 December 2024 |date=9 September 2024}}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Critical response ===
[[Saibal Chatterjee]] of ''[[NDTV]]'' gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and stated that "Authentic and to the point, Vijay Varma starrer is as good a web series as any we have seen this year."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chatterjee |first1=Saibal |title=IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review - Vijay Varma Gives The Notion Of Heroism A Fresh Spin|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-review-vijay-varma-gives-the-notion-of-heroism-a-fresh-spin-3-5-stars-6443223 |website=NDTV |language=en|date=29 August 2024}}</ref> Shubham Kulkarni of ''[[OTT Play]]'' gave the series 4/5 stars and stated "''IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack'' doesn't forcefully create a hero and Anubhav Sinha wins exactly there when he honours each being who managed to save even themselves."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kulkarni |first1=Shubham |title=IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review Ft, Anubhav Sinha, Vijay Varma & team |url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-review-anubhav-sinha-vijay-varma-dia-mirza/e35f45e7b4910 |website=OTTPlay |language=en|date=29 August 2024}}</ref> Divya Raje Bhonsale of ''[[Mathrubhumi]]'' rated the series 4/5 stars and states "A gripping Netflix series based on the 1999 Kandahar hijack, 'IC 814' features an impressive ensemble cast and a razor-sharp script. Must-watch for fans of historical dramas."<ref>{{cite web |title='IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' Review: A masterclass in storytelling |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/review/netflix-ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-review-directed-by-anubhav-sinha-1.9854488 |website=English.Mathrubhumi |language=en |date=29 August 2024}}</ref> A critic for ''[[Bollywood Hungama]]'' rated the web series 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote "On the whole, ''IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack'' sees the coming together of some of the most talented names of Indian cinema and also throws light on the shocking aspects of the 1999 hijack episode. Due to the taut execution, strong script and of course the ensemble cast, the show is sure to get a huge viewership."<ref>{{cite news|first=Bollywood|last=Hungama|title=Web Series Review: IC 814: THE KANDAHAR HIJACK shines through a taut execution, strong script and the ensemble cast|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/web-series-review-ic-814-kandahar-hijack-shines-taut-execution-strong-script-ensemble-cast/|magazine=[[Bollywood Hungama]]|date=30 August 2024}}</ref>

[[Sukanya Verma]] of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' rated the series 3.5 stars out of 5 stars and notes "''IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack'' begins by asking why the hijack lasted seven days and ends in wondering if the good guys fought the bad ones hard enough."<ref>{{cite web |last1=VERMA |first1=SUKANYA |title=IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review: Gripping!! |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-review/20240829.htm |website=Rediff |language=en |access-date=29 August 2024 |archive-date=29 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829182415/https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-review/20240829.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Shubhra Gupta]] of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' gave the series 3/5 stars and notes "The Vijay Varma-Naseeruddin Shah-Pankaj Kapur show keeps it grounded, even when it’s in the air, and manages to distribute the tension evenly throughout."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gupta |first1=Shubhra  |title=IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack review: Effective and sharp, Vijay Varma-Anubhav Sinha series bravely unpacks the truth |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-review-effective-and-sharp-vijay-varma-anubhav-sinha-series-bravely-unpacks-the-truth-9539581/ |website=The Indian Express |language=en |date=29 August 2024}}</ref> Shreyas Pande from ''[[Cinema Express]]'' rated the series 2.5 stars out of 5 stars and states "It’s a new leap here, as he (Anubhav Sinha) makes his web series debut and largely creates an engaging experience by showing nearly all that transpired during the dreadful hijack. Yet, something seems amiss. As the credits roll, you know certain information and it is just about enough to leave you curious. Nothing more, nothing less."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pande |first1=Shreyas |title=IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Series Review: Anubhav Sinha's docu-drama engages but doesn't sustain |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/ott/review/2024/Aug/29/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-series-review-anubhav-sinhas-docu-drama-engages-but-doesnt-sustain |website=Cinema Express |language=en |date=29 August 2024 |access-date=29 August 2024 |archive-date=29 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829111914/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/ott/review/2024/Aug/29/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-series-review-anubhav-sinhas-docu-drama-engages-but-doesnt-sustain |url-status=live }}</ref> Devansh Sharma of ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' notes "But in his (Anubhav Sinha) debut web series, he pulls off the Herculean task of telling a historical hijack story through a holistic, accurate, and non-judgemental lens."<ref>{{cite web | last=Sharma | first=Devansh | title=IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack review: Avengers of Indian acting assemble for Anubhav Sinha's gripping, nuanced thriller | website=Hindustan Times | date=29 August 2024 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-review-avengers-of-indian-acting-assemble-for-anubhav-sinha-gripping-nuanced-thriller-netflix-101724903900302.html}}</ref> Anuj Kumar of ''[[The Hindu]]'' notes "Anubhav Sinha recreates the story of the longest hijack in Indian aviation history with precision, fairness and a touch of humanity."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kumar |first1=Anuj |title='IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' series review: Vijay Varma, Manoj Pahwa power this stirring political thriller |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-series-review-vijay-varma-manoj-pahwa-power-this-stirring-political-thriller/article68581196.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=29 August 2024 |access-date=29 August 2024 |archive-date=29 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829182047/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-series-review-vijay-varma-manoj-pahwa-power-this-stirring-political-thriller/article68581196.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Criticisms by experts, Indian officials and survivors ===
Several experts, high-ranking officers, senior journalists and the crew of the flight, including the former [[Research and Analysis Wing]] (RAW) chief [[A. S. Dulat|A.S. Dulat]] and Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, have criticized the series for its historical inaccuracies and not showing the passengers' perspective correctly.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2024-09-05 |title=Not just the names, Anubhav Sinha's IC 814 hijacked several facts |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ic-814-anubhav-sinha-hijacked-netflix-series-taliban-passangers-crew-experts-facts-revealed-2594338-2024-09-05 |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

Journalist [[Vir Sanghvi]] said the series misleadingly downplays the role of the [[Inter-Services Intelligence]] (ISI) to the point of serving as "propaganda" for the spy agency, and minimizes the threat posed by the hijackers. Historian [[Hindol Sengupta]] said the film is "pathetic", accusing the filmmakers of glorifying terrorism and failing to "acknowledge the long-term impact of the terrorists released during the hijacking, diminishing the severity of the real-life events", according to a report in the ''[[Swarajya (magazine)|Swarajya]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-09-02 |title=Did Netflix series 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' incorrectly use Hindu names for hijackers? The controversy explained |url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/netflix-series-ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-incorrectl-names-hijackers-controversy-13810676.html |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=Firstpost |language=en-us |quote=As per a report in the Swarajya, historian Hindol Sengupta called the film “pathetic” for what he sees as its glorification of terrorists. He added that the series doesn’t acknowledge the long-term impact of the terrorists released during the hijacking, diminishing the severity of the real-life events... Vir Sanghvi, a veteran journalist, accused the Netflix serial of serving as propaganda for Pakistan’s spy agency, the ISI. He has slammed the filmmakers for being naive and misleading, suggesting that the series offers a whitewashed portrayal of an ISI operation while failing to accurately represent the threat posed by the hijackers.}}</ref>

Dulat told India Today TV "There’s no doubt that the ISI had a role in this. It wasn’t just based on our intelligence reports; a well-known Pakistani journalist was in Kandahar at the time. He reported that it was obvious the ISI was orchestrating and controlling the entire operation".<ref name=":2" /><ref name="Bhattacharya">{{cite book |last=Bhattacharya |first=Samir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xO3HAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA213 |title=Nothing But! |date=2014 |publisher=[[Partridge Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-48281-787-4 |page=213 |access-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908102941/https://books.google.com/books?id=xO3HAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA213 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> G Parthasarathy, India's high commissioner to Pakistan at the time of the IC 814 hijacking, calls Sinha's portrayal of [[al-Qaida]] and [[Taliban]] roles "ridiculous". He said in an interview, "It was totally Pakistani involvement. The persons concerned were Pakistanis. The people they wanted released were Pakistanis. So there is no question of al-Qaida, that's the farthest thing to say".<ref name=":2" /><ref name="Bhattacharya" />

The series also shows intelligence from the Kathmandu RAW team on a possible hijacking of an Indian aircraft reaching the agency's headquarters in Delhi, which has been denied by multiple officers of RAW, including Dulat.<ref name=":2" />

The series is also criticized{{By whom|date=December 2024}} for its gentle portrayal of the hijackers, with hijackers being empathetic towards the injured crew and passengers on board, while in reality, the hijackers had killed a person onboard and stabbed a German citizen Satnam Singh.<ref name="Ordeal">{{cite magazine |date=7 January 2000 |title=An eight-day ordeal |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article30253146.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016221548/https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article30253146.ece |archive-date=16 October 2020 |access-date=2 September 2020 |magazine=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-02 |title=Who Was Rupin Katyal, the Lone Fatality of IC 814 Hijack, How He Died? Everything You Need To Know |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/who-was-rupin-katyal-the-lone-fatality-of-ic-814-hijack-how-he-died-everything-you-need-to-know-9036062.html |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref>

The series also failed to show the hijackers' attempts to religiously convert the passengers on board.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-04 |title=Convert to Islam: Most brutal IC 814 hijacker told passengers |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ic-814-kandahar-hijack-doctor-shakir-killed-rupin-katyal-tried-to-convert-passengers-to-islam-indian-airlines-hijackers-2593420-2024-09-04 |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Ipseeta Menon, one of the survivors of the hijack'','' recalled how the hijackers tried to convert them. She said "The Netflix series has missed the long speeches by 'Doctor'[one of the hijackers]".<ref name=":2" /> She also said "The high tension among the passengers hasn't been captured well".

==== Names of terrorists ====
The series has been criticized for changing the [[Islamic terrorism|Pakistani terrorists]] real names to code names and Hindu names.<ref name="The Times of India">{{Cite news |date=2024-09-01 |title='IC 814 - The Kandahar': Netizens REACTS as makers name Muslim hijackers as 'Bhola' and 'Shankar' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/ic-814-the-kandahar-netizens-reacts-as-makers-name-muslim-hijackers-as-bhola-and-shankar/articleshow/112963575.cms |access-date=2024-09-01 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The identities of the five hijackers were determined to be [[Indian Airlines Flight 814#Hijackers|Ibrahim Akhtar]] (from [[Bahawalpur]]), [[Indian Airlines Flight 814#Hijackers|Shahid Akhtar Sayeed]], [[Indian Airlines Flight 814#Hijackers|Sunny Ahmed Qaz]]<nowiki/>i, [[Indian Airlines Flight 814#Hijackers|Zahoor Mistry]] (all three from [[Karachi]]) and [[Indian Airlines Flight 814#Hijackers|Shakir]] (from [[Sukkur]]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bhattacharya |first=Brigadier Samir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xO3HAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA213 |title=NOTHING BUT! |date=2014 |publisher=Partridge Publishing |isbn=978-1-4828-1787-4 |language=en}}</ref> However, the series used their code names like Bhola, Shankar, Doctor, Burger, and Chief.<ref name="The Times of India"/> This decision has led to accusations that the series downplays the identities of the terrorists, which some viewers argue dilutes the historical context and impact of the real events.<ref name="The Times of India"/>

Journalist [[Neelesh Misra|Neelesh Mishra]], who has written a [[173 Hours in Captivity|book on the hijacking]], said "All the hijackers assumed false names. That is how they referred to each other and how the passengers referred to them throughout the hijacking".<ref name=":0"/> He clarified that he had not seen the series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-01 |title=IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack: Writer Shares REAL Reason Terrorists' Names Changed in Anubhav Sinha Show |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-anubhav-sinha-terrorists-real-names-changed-9035074.html |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref>

Following the public uproar, [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]] directed the content chief of Netflix India to appear before it and offer an explanation about the allegedly contentious aspects of the web series.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-02 |title=Netflix India content head summoned over 'IC 814' row: Government sources |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/netflix-content-head-summoned-by-controversy-ic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-government-sources-2592065-2024-09-02}}</ref> Netflix responded by saying it would add new opening disclaimers to include the real and code names of the hijackers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-03 |title=Netflix will add disclaimers to Indian hijack drama after outrage over Hindu names |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/netflix-add-disclaimers-indian-hijack-134039395.html |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}</ref> However, some viewers outside India reported that this disclaimer was missing in version shown outside of India and was only present in the Indian version of it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-04 |title=IC 814 row: Has Netflix added disclaimer ONLY for its Indian audience? User on X calls out OTT platform |url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ic-814-row-has-netflix-added-disclaimer-only-for-its-indian-audience-user-on-x-call-out-ott-platform-755958 |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=WION |language=en-us}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|tt28106741}}
* {{Netflix title}}

{{Netflix original current series}}
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[[Category:2024 Indian television series debuts]]
[[Category:2020s Indian television series]]
[[Category:Hindi-language television shows]]
[[Category:Netflix television dramas]]
[[Category:Crime thriller television series]]
[[Category:Indian thriller television series]]
[[Category:Television series based on actual events]]
[[Category:Works about Islamic terrorism]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Osama bin Laden]]
[[Category:India–Pakistan relations in popular culture]]