The show recounting the horrifying 1999 hijacking incident has been praised for its compelling performances but it has become a subject of nationwide condemnation also facing accusation of “Whitewashing” the terrorists involved.
Mumbai: The newly released series “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack”, has become the epicenter of a fierce debate surrounding the accusations of ‘whitewashing’ the events it portrays. The show recounts the harrowing 1999 hijacking on Indian Airlines IC 814 by terrorists, directed by the acclaimed filmmaker, Anubhav Sinha, has been appraised for its compelling performance by the viewers and critics alike, yet received condemnation.
The real-life tragedy series features an ensemble cast of stalwarts, namely Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Verma, Arvind Swamy, Manoj Pahwa and Dia Mirza. The actors’ powerful portrayal of characters caught in the midst of the life-threatening tragedy received laud by the critics, universally. However, the compelling performances were overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the erroneous portrayal of the terrorists causing the incident.
The purported alteration of the names of the terrorists hijacking the plane has stirred up the emotions of viewers causing the controversy. Hijackers identified as Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar, Zahoor Mistry, Sunny Ahmad Qazi and Shakir were renamed as Bhola, Shankar, Burger, Doctor and Chief, which ignited sentiments of communities.
This notable change led to many accusing the series of attempting to downplay the identities of the terrorists involved, fueling the widespread outrage of the viewers over social media platforms. Critics argue that the changed name not only distorts the historical facts but also obstruct the understanding of the social,cultural and religious motives behind the act.
The criticism not only limits to the name alteration but extends way beyond that. Many accusations believe that the alterations are part of a broader attempt to sanitize the incident and individuals involved. While some went as far as to label the series and the makers as “pro-terrorists” and “anti-government”, suggesting that the series deliberately depicts the government in a negative light while being sympathetic to the terrorists.
These allegations have sparked a larger debate on the portrayal of the historic events in popular media and mocking the sentiments associated with them. Additionally critics argue that by altering the key details, the show undermines the gravity of the incident and disrespects the memories of those who suffered the incident.
Amid the controversy, in support of the series and the director Sinha, some viewers and supporters pin-pointed a statement deliberately issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding the incident. According to the statement, the hijackers did use code names namely Bhola, Shankar, Burger, Chief and Doctor during the incident. Quashing the accusations of “Whitewashing”, the supporters argue that the series simply reflects the real-life code names used by the terrorists to deflect suspicions.
The defense failed to convince the critics or subside the backlash. The critics continue to argue that the name alterations still contribute to the broader pattern of distorting historical incidents and diluted the real identities of the individuals involved. It creates a dissonance between the actual event and dramatized portrayal depicts a misleading narrative.
Supposedly, the series was expected to be a gripping retelling of one of the most horrifying traumatic incidents in the history of India. However, while it succeeded to grab the attention and sparked conversations, it also raises eyebrows on the historic accuracy portrayed and concerning ethics associated with storytelling.
As the series continues to stream on the global platform Netflix, the controversy is likely to persist alongside, with viewers and critics debating whether the creative liberty excuse is justified or if they represent a troubling trend of historical revisionism. Regardless of the stances, the debate highlights the complexities and responsibilities involved in the portrayal of real-life incidents.
