The web series ‘IC-814: The Kandhar Hijack,’ released on Netflix, is facing growing controversy over the use of altered names for the terrorists involved. The series, starring Vijay Varma, is based on the real-life hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight on December 24, 1999. Since its release last month, it has sparked outrage for changing the names of the terrorists to Hindu names, leading to accusations of misrepresentation.
BJP’s Entry into the Controversy
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has now entered the fray, accusing the series’ creators of deliberately changing the terrorists’ names to hide their true identities. BJP’s IT cell head, Amit Malviya, criticized the series, claiming that the real terrorists, who were known to be dangerous, had Muslim names, which were changed to non-Muslim names in the series to whitewash their criminal intent. Malviya argued that such alterations could mislead people into believing that Hindus were behind the hijacking, calling for a boycott of the series.
Malviya went on to allege that this move was part of a leftist agenda to cover up the crimes committed by Pakistani terrorists involved in the IC-814 hijacking. He accused the filmmakers of using cinema as a tool to distort history and protect those responsible for the heinous act.
Clarification from the Casting Director
In response to the controversy, casting director Mukesh Chhabra defended the series, stating that thorough research was conducted, and the altered names were based on the criminals’ use of fake names among themselves. Chhabra clarified that the names used in the series—Bhola, Shankar, Burger, Chief, and Doctor—were codenames rather than real identities.
Star-Studded Cast
‘IC-814: The Kandhar Hijack’ features a notable cast, including Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Dia Mirza, Patralekha, Pankaj Kapoor, and Arvind Swami. The series is directed by Anubhav Sinha. Despite the controversy, it has attracted attention for its gripping portrayal of the 1999 hijacking, even as debates continue over its representation of historical facts.