IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack Controversy: MIB Summons Netflix Content Head Over 'Identity Change'

IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack Controversy: Vijay Varma starrer IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack is drawing heavy criticism after the makers changed the name of the hijackers in the series. The movie is based on a real-life incident about the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in 1999. In a recent development, Netflix Content Head has been summoned tomorrow, September 3.

While the performance of the actors, direction and cinematography are being praised by the critics, netizens are slamming the makers for changing the original names - Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny, Ahmad Qazi, Zahoor Mistry and Shakir - to Bhola, Shankar, Doctor, Burger and Chief. Calling in for a boycott of the series and Netflix, they accused the makers of "whitewashing" the events.

IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack in trouble - here's why

After netizens called for the boycott of the series and OTT platform Netflix, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has summoned the Content Head of Netflix tomorrow, September 3, over a content row.

Casting director reacts to boycott claims

Mukesh Chhabra, the casting director, issued a clarification over the alleged "name change" of hijackers. Taking to his X handle, he stated that the team's creative decision was backed by proper research. "I am reading so many tweets about the names of the hijackers. We did the proper research. They used to call each other by those names—nicknames or fake names, whatever you want to call them. And thank you, everyone, for loving the ensemble cast. A big thank you to my team, and especially to Anubhav Sinha for trusting us and giving me the freedom to explore (sic)," Chhabra wrote on X.

The motive behind the hijacking was to secure the release of Pakistani terrorists held in Indian prison - Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar.