IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has been under controversy for the past several days since its release on 29th August. The Netflix web series was criticised for using ‘Hindu’ names of terrorists in showing one of the scenes. In that scene, one of the hijackers was seen informing someone over a call by using the ‘Hindu’ code names of his teammates. This created an outrage on social media leading to several controversies. The content head of the popular OTT platform was also summoned by the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry. Now, Netflix has assured that the disclaimer in the web series will be updated. 

Netflix India, Content, Vice President, Monika Shergill said “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.” 

Her comments came after she met I&B Ministry secretary Sanjay Jaju in New Delhi. 

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has been directed by Anubhav Sinha. It stars Vijay Varma, Patralekha, Rajiv Thakur, Arvind Swamy, Pankaj Kapur, Amrita Puri, Anupam Tripathi, Naseeruddin Shah, Dia Mirza, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra and Aditya Srivastava in pivotal roles. The web show showcases a hijack that occurred on the IC 814 flight in December 1999. The flight was en route Kathmandu-Delhi but terrorists asked to divert it to Kandahar under Taliban control. The series was highly praised by the audience and the critics for its performances and storyline.