Future Content Will be Sensitive to Nation's Sentiments: Netflix Assures Govt Amid IC 814 Row

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, the content head of Netflix India, Monika Shergill assured the government that the OTT platform would be more sensitive in its future content.  This assurance follows the controversy surrounding the series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, directed by Anubhav Sinha. The series, which is based on the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by the Pakistan-based terror group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, has sparked massive backlash, following which an hour-long meeting took place between the streaming giant and government officials. 

If sources are to be believed, Netflix has assured that it will review its content to ensure that all future programming aligns with the nation’s sentiments and is sensitive to the needs of children. The platform is committed to taking these concerns into account when developing and releasing new content.  

What Did Netflix Say?

“Netflix has provided an assurance to conduct a content review and guarantee that all future content on their platform will be sensitive to and in accordance with the nation's sentiments”, govt sources told ANI. 

Earlier they had said, “Nobody has the right to play with the sentiments of the people of this nation. India's culture and civilization should always be respected. You should think before portraying something in a wrong manner. The govt is taking it very seriously."

Yesterday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) summoned the content head of Netflix India, seeking an explanation on the allegedly contentious aspects of the series portraying the 1999 hijack of an Indian Airlines flight by Pakistan-based terror outfit Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.

IC814 The Kandahar Hijack to Undergo Edits

In today’s meeting, sources revealed that the Netflix team defended the content of the series, stating that it was adapted from the book Flight Into Fear: The Captain's Story by journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury. Reports suggest that several scenes from the web series might be cut as a result of the discussions. There are also allegations that the portrayal of the terrorists in a ‘humane light’ needs to be revised. Insiders further disclosed that following the meeting with Netflix, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting may summon the book’s authors for questioning.  

PIL In HC Seeking Ban on IC 814

Meanwhile, a PIL was filed in the Delhi High Court seeking a ban on the OTT series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar hijack’ over allegations of distortion of facts about the real identities of the hijackers. The plea alleged that the mini-series erroneously shows the real hijackers as having Hindu names, including ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’, the other names of Lord Shiva, which hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community. The petition filed by Surjit Singh Yadav, a farmer and president of Hindu Sena, sought a direction to the Centre and Maharashtra government to cancel the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate and ban the public viewing of the series.

“The distortion of crucial facts about the real identities of the hijackers not only misrepresents historical events but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and misinformation, warranting interference of this court to prevent further public misunderstanding and potential harm,” the petition said.   

#BoycottNetflix, #BoycottBollywood, #BoycottIC814

Several users on X have shared posts using hashtags like #BoycottNetflix, #BoycottBollywood, and #IC814, alleging that the filmmakers of IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack altered the hijackers' names to 'Shankar' and 'Bhola.' These users claim that the changes were made to protect the identities of terrorists from a particular community.  

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya said the hijackers of the IC-814 flight were dreaded terrorists, who acquired aliases to hide their Muslim identities. "Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, legitimised their criminal intent, by furthering their non-Muslim names. Decades later, people will think Hindus hijacked IC-814," Malviya posted on X.

"Left's agenda to whitewash the crimes of Pakistani terrorists, all Muslims, served. This is the power of cinema, which the Communists have been using aggressively, since the 70s. Perhaps even earlier," Malviya said. "This will not just weaken/put in question India's security apparatus in the long run but also shift the blame away from the religious cohort, that is responsible for all the bloodshed," he added.