'IC 814 Kandahar Hijacking Netflix' Among Top Trending Topics On Google Search, & It's Not Due To Rave Reviews. Find Out Why

'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' has been criticised for allegedly misrepresenting the hijackers by altering their names to "Bhola" and "Shankar".

'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack', the Anubhav Sinha-directed gripping thriller starring Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Arvind Swamy, and Dia Mirza started streaming on Netflix on August 29. Ever since then, the miniseries' authentic portrayal of a nightmarish hijack and stellar performances by the likes of Varma and Kapur earned accolades from critics and fans alike. However, Netflix India found itself in troubled waters over 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' for allegedly misrepresenting hijackers by using Hindu names. 

Here's why 'IC 814 Kandahar Hijacking Netflix' is trending high on Google Search:

#BoycottNetflix

'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' has been criticised for allegedly misrepresenting the hijackers by altering their names to "Bhola" and "Shankar," names associated with the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. Critics argue this depiction distorts historical facts and offends religious sentiments by mischaracterising the terrorists involved.

The controversy has fueled a heated debate on social media, with hashtags like #BoycottNetflix and #BoycottBollywood trending on X (formerly Twitter). BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya accused the filmmakers of attempting to sanitise the actions of the terrorists by assigning them Hindu names, potentially misleading future audiences.

In contrast, figures such as former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Shiv Sena-UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised the selective outrage, questioning the consistency in demands for historical accuracy in films.

What Did Netflix Tell The Govt?

The series, which revisits the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by the Pakistan-based terror group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, sparked outrage, prompting a meeting between Netflix and government officials.

After Netflix India was summoned by the Centre for questioning, the streaming giant has reportedly assured the Indian government that it will be more mindful of national sentiments in its future content offerings, following backlash over the series.

Was Netflix wrong?

A government document from the time of the 1999 hijacking clarifies that the hijackers — Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Shakir a.k.a. Rajesh Gopal Verma, Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, and Ibrahim Athar — used nicknames like Bhola, Shankar, Doctor, and Burger during the incident.

The official statement notes that these names were how the hijackers addressed one another on board the plane, countering claims that the series fabricated the details.