The recent release of *#IC814TheKandaharHijack* on Netflix, directed by Anubhav Sinha, has sparked significant controversy for its portrayal of the infamous 1999 hijacking of Flight IC-814. The series has been criticized for distorting historical facts and attempting to whitewash the horrific acts committed by Islamic terrorists during the hijacking.
One of the most glaring issues is the inexplicable decision to change the names of the hijackers, who were originally identified as Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir. Instead, the series portrays these individuals with generic names like "Chief," "Doctor," "Burger," "Shankar," and "Bhola." This not only undermines the gravity of the actual events but also seems to deliberately shift the narrative away from the real culprits by assigning them Hindu names like "Shankar" and "Bhola." This kind of rewriting of history is both misleading and offensive, especially to those who remember the traumatic events of the hijacking.
The series also raises concerns for its portrayal of the Taliban and the ISI, the Pakistani intelligence agency, whose involvement in the hijacking has been well-documented. Instead of depicting the Taliban's notorious role in harboring and aiding terrorists, the series shockingly portrays them in a positive light, even going as far as to show the hijackers playing games like antakshari with the passengers. This trivialization of a deadly and traumatic event is a gross misrepresentation of the truth.
The latest release appears to follow this troubling trend, which can be seen as an insult to the victims of terrorism and the brave soldiers who protect our nation from such threats.
In conclusion, *#IC814TheKandaharHijack* is a deeply problematic series that fails to respect historical accuracy and the memories of those who suffered during the 1999 hijacking. It’s a disappointing addition to Bollywood’s history of controversial portrayals of real-life criminals and terrorists. For those looking for a factual recounting of the IC-814 hijacking, this series is not recommended.