IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack - Netflix to conduct content review, assures 'future content will be sensitive to...'

Netflix content head Monika Shergill was on Tuesday summoned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the alleged factual distortion in Anubhav Sinha’s recently released series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The streaming giant has now guaranteed that all future content on the platform will be sensitive to and in accordance with the nation's sentiments. The series was accused of distorting the names of the hijackers in the series, making social media users demand a ban on the public viewing of the series.

Netflix will conduct a content review

Government sources told ANI that Netflix has provided an assurance to conduct a content review and guaranteed that all future content on their platform will be sensitive to and in accordance with the nation's sentiments.

The government had earlier said that nobody has the right to play with the sentiments of the people of this nation. They added that India's culture and civilization should always be respected. “You should think before portraying something in a wrong manner. The govt is taking it very seriously,” the government sources stated.

After a section of media users accused the makers of the web series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack of deliberately changing the names of the hijackers to ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar,’ the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting summoned the Netflix content head Monika Shergill to explain about the contentious aspects of the web series.

Recently a PIL has been filed in the Delhi High Court demanding a ban on IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack over allegations of distortion of facts about the real identities of the hijackers. “The distortion of crucial facts about the real identities of the hijackers not only misrepresents historical events but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and misinformation, warranting interference of this court to prevent further public misunderstanding and potential harm,” the petition says.

Controversy surrounding IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack

Anubhav Sinha’s thriller drama series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack depicts the real-life events of the hijacking of flight IC 814 in 1999. In the series, two of the terrorists were named Shankar and Bholaa, the other names of Lord Shiva. This has enraged social media users stating that the makers are distorting facts though the makers have revealed that the film is based on investigation reports and the book, Flight into Fear: The Captain’s Story, written by Srinjoy Chowdhury and the captain of the flight, Devi Sharan.

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack on Netflix

Starring Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, Arvind Swami, Anupam Tripathi, Dia Mirza, Patralekhaa, Amrita Puri, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, and Kumud Mishra, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack released on Netflix on August 29.