Netizens Claim IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Series Aims To 'Vilify The Hindu Community', Writer Neelesh Misra Reacts

The Netflix series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ narrates the terrifying 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by terrorists has drawn mixed reviews.

Anubhav Sinha's Netflix series is filmed on the Indian Airlines flight 814 aka IC 814 hijack on December 24, 1999.

Source : IMDb

The Netflix series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’, which stars Vijay Varma and Dia Mirza, has generated a huge debate on social media. Due to its portrayal of the hijackers and its interpretation of the historical events, this six-episode series, which narrates the terrifying 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by terrorists, has drawn mixed reviews.

Netizens slam Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack

The makers' decision to rename the terrorists has been the main focus of criticism. The actual names of the hijackers were Shakir, Ahmad Qazi, Sunny, Ibrahim Athar, and Shahid Akhtar Sayed. But these names were changed to Bhola, Shankar, Burger, Chief, and Doctor in the series.

Some users argue that these changes not only misrepresent historical facts but also undermine the impact of the incident by incorrectly portraying the hijackers.

Here is how the viewers are reacting to the IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack series:

Anubhav Sinha’s latest cinematic disaster is nothing short of an insult to the collective memory of a nation that still reels from the horror of the IC 814 hijacking.

In a baffling display of hypocrisy, he has not only failed to portray the real villains but has gone a step…

— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) August 31, 2024

Shall not watch @anubhavsinha’s #IC814 because - I lived in #Kathmandu then - lived thru it moment by moment, know many who were on the plane (including crew members) and R&AW Officers who handled the crisis and also went to Kandahar. It’s a shame and disservice to the nation. pic.twitter.com/fc3Y5s533g

— GhoseSpot (@SandipGhose) August 31, 2024

Names of the original #IC814 hijackers were Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir.

The entire plane was stinking and people were suffocated because of overflowing toilets and a plane without Power. People were given rice and meat curry…

— SUDHIR (@seriousfunnyguy) August 31, 2024

Can we Boycott this Hinduphobic film by Netflix & Anubhav Sinha which shows IC814 hijackers named as Bhola & Shankar

Remember how we brought Amir to his knees by ensuring Lal Singh Chadha was a super flop ?

Ab iss movie ko bhi gutter mein daal do #BoycottIC814… pic.twitter.com/sa6FE3Y1Y6

— Kedar (@shintre_kedar) August 31, 2024

The code names used by the hijackers of the IC-814 plane were: Bhola, Shankar, Doctor, Burger, Chief.
The “chief” was Ibrahim Ather, brother of Jaish founder Masood Azhar.
Ibrahim’s son Umar Farooq was the mastermind of the 2019 Pulwama attack. This is his photo. pic.twitter.com/zVA0syQEJX

— Rahul Pandita (@rahulpandita) September 1, 2024

However, some fans have defended the show, saying it offers an intriguing viewpoint on the tragedy. They insist that narrative and artistic expression are elements of the creative license exercised by the filmmakers.

Neelesh Misra clarifies hijackers used different names in real life

Now, author Neelesh Misra, whose book was the inspiration for Netflix's IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, has reacted to criticism about the terrorists' "changed" names in the show. “All the hijackers assumed false names. That is how they referred to each other and how the passengers referred to them throughout the hijacking — Regards, the author of the first book on the IC-814 hijacking,” Neelesh shared.

“Shankar”
“Bhola”
“Burger”
“Doctor”
and the “Chief”, the brother of then-jailed Masood Azhar himself.

All the hijackers assumed false names. That is how they referred to each other and how the passengers referred to them throughout the hijacking.

— Regards, the author of the… https://t.co/fZgUZiXxPm

— Neelesh Misra (@neeleshmisra) August 31, 2024

Anubhav Sinha's Netflix series is filmed on the Indian Airlines flight 814 aka IC 814 hijack on December 24, 1999 released on August 29, 2024.