Mumbai, September 3, 2024: Director Anubhav Sinha, known for his hard-hitting narratives, firmly addressed the controversy surrounding his latest Netflix series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, during a press conference held on Tuesday. The event, which took place in Mumbai, featured the cast of the series, including Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, Pankaj Kapur, Arvind Swamy, and Naseeruddin Shah.
The series, based on the infamous 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, has been embroiled in controversy since its release on August 29. Critics have accused the show of “whitewashing” the events, particularly over the use of non-Muslim code names for the hijackers, which some claim has hurt religious sentiments.
At the press meeting, Sinha was questioned by a reporter about the alleged distortion of facts in the series. Initially, the director declined to respond, but when pressed further, he asked the journalist if they had watched the series. “Aapne series dekha hain? Series dekhiye. Baat nahi kar sakta aapse, aapne series nahi dekhi,” he asserted, emphasizing that he could not engage with criticism from those who had not viewed the content.
Netflix Addresses Concerns
The controversy intensified after viewers expressed outrage over the code names used by the hijackers in the series—Bhola, Shankar, Doctor, Burger, and Chief—claiming they were insensitive. In response to these concerns, Netflix has updated the series’ disclaimer to clarify the real names of the hijackers alongside their code names, as per the events of 1999.
Monika Shergill, Vice President of Content at Netflix India, released a statement addressing the issue: “For the benefit of audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, the opening disclaimer has been updated to include the real and code names of the hijackers. The code names in the series reflect those used during the actual event. India has a rich culture of storytelling—and we are committed to showcasing these stories and their authentic representation.”
The press conference concluded shortly after Sinha’s pointed remarks, leaving the controversy to continue playing out in the public domain.
