Netflix India’s Head summoned over “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack” web series row

“IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack”, Netflix’s latest series, which is based on the 1999 Hijack, of the Indian aircraft IC 814 by five terrorists, is at the center of controversy. The head of the Netflix content, Monika Shergill, has reportedly been summoned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This comes after some users on social media accused the web series’ creators of purposefully changing the hijackers’ names to “Shankar” and “Bhola”.

As per the Anubhav Sinha-directed series, the five hijackers of the Kathmandu-to-Delhi flight are named Shankar, Bhola, Chief, Doctor, and Burger. It is consistent with the investigative reports and the book Flight into Fear: The Captain’s Story, authored by the flight’s captain, Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury.

Demanding the boycott of the show went viral on social media even after casting director Mukesh Chhabra made it clear that the identities were codenames, however, the boycott became stronger particularly after BJP member Amit Malviya criticized the producers’ decision to omit the hijackers’ names from the series.

However, the ongoing controversy continues to escalate as both sides of the political aisle engage in heated debates and discussions regarding the issue at hand. Each party presents its arguments, highlighting the potential implications of either an absolute ban or a more moderate approach, such as a simple tap on regulations. The outcome of this contentious discourse is expected to become clearer on Wednesday, following a rumored meeting among key stakeholders. This meeting is anticipated to shed light on whether there will be a definitive ban or if the focus will shift towards other solutions or considerations altogether.

As the discussions unfold, it remains to be seen how public opinion, interest groups, and political pressure will influence the final decision.