Netflix has committed to addressing concerns regarding its series "IC 814-The Kandahar Hijack" by ensuring it remains sensitive to Indian sentiments. This follows criticism from the Indian government over the portrayal of certain characters in the series.
The OTT platform has promised the Information and Broadcasting Ministry that it will review the content of the series, which has faced backlash for using Hindu names for two of the terrorists. The characters, named 'Bhola' and 'Shankar,' have been criticized, while the other three terrorists are referred to as Chief, Doctor, and Burger.
Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the series portrays the harrowing experiences of passengers on Indian Airlines Flight 814, which was hijacked on December 24, 1999. The flight, en route from Kathmandu to New Delhi, was taken over by militants from the Pakistan-based group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. The aircraft was diverted several times, including stops in Amritsar, Lahore, and Dubai, where some passengers were released.
In response to the controversy, Netflix India’s content head, Monika Shergill, was summoned by the government to explain the series’ portrayal. Netflix has presented research documents and footage to support their content, stating that the series is based on publicly available sources, including books and official statements.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking a ban on the series. The series, based on the book "Flight Into Fear: The Captain's Story" by Srinjoy Chowdhury and Devi Sharan, features an ensemble cast including Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, and others.
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