New Delhi: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has called in Monika Shergill, the head of content at Netflix, following a backlash over the streaming platform’s latest series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The series, which is currently available on Netflix, is loosely based on the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814 by five terrorists.
The show has sparked controversy among viewers who have criticized the series for allegedly altering the names of the hijackers to “Bhola” and “Shankar”. Critics argue that these changes misrepresent the real-life incident and offend the sentiments of those affected by the tragedy.
A government source emphasized the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the issue. In a statement to NDTV, the source remarked, “Nobody has the right to play with the sentiments of people of this country. India’s culture and civilization must always be respected. It is essential to be cautious before depicting historical events inaccurately. The government is taking this matter very seriously.”
Directed by Anubhav Sinha and penned by Adrian Levy and Trishant Srivastava, the series features an ensemble cast including Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, and Arvind Swamy. Produced by Sarita Patil and Sanjay Routray under Matchbox Shots and Benaras Mediaworks, the series aims to dramatize the high-stakes hijacking incident that shook India in 1999.
