IC 814 Series Faces Controversy Over Terrorist Identities

The Netflix series 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack,' directed by Anubhav Sinha, has garnered controversy over the alleged alteration of the terrorists' identities, with social media users and BJP leaders accusing the series of distorting facts and pushing a political agenda. Casting director Mukesh Chhabra and writer Neelesh Misra defended the series, stating that the terrorists used nicknames like 'Shankar' and 'Bhola' during the actual hijacking. Critics argue that these changes whitewash the crimes of Muslim terrorists and propagate misinformation. Despite the backlash, the series, which started streaming on August 29, has been well-received by critics. The real-life hero, Captain Devi Sharan, who piloted the hijacked flight, is portrayed by Vijay Varma. The series aims to dramatize the harrowing eight-day ordeal of the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, which involved 188 passengers and crew.