The recently-released web series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, starring Vijay Varma in the lead role, has stirred up a massive controversy after the hijackers were named ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’ on the show. The show is based on the real-life hijack incident of 1999, and netizens pointed out that the terrorists were identified as Muslims post the incident, and accused director Anubhav Sinha of showing misleading information.
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack tells the story of the longest hijack in the history of India. It is based on the true events of 1999 when an Indian passenger flight was hijacked by terrorists, who demanded the freedom of militants in exchange of letting the passengers onboard the flight leave unharmed.
Post the incident, the five hijackers were identified as Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir, who were members of a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation.
However, in the show, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, the terrorists can be seen identifying themselves as ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’, and one even went on to call himself ‘Burger’.
This did not go down well with the viewers, who questioned Anubhav Sinha for changing the names of the terrorists. “Terrorists were named ‘Shankar’ & ‘Bhola’. Agar aatankwad ka koi mazhab nahi hota to naam change kyu kiye bhai?,” a user asked.
On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines flight IC 814 was hijacked by 5 armed Jihadis, who demanded the release of 36 militants and $200 M in ransom.
But guess what Propaganda Peddler Anubhav Sinha chose to show?
Terrorists were named ‘Shankar’ & ‘Bhola’. Agar aatankwad ka koi… pic.twitter.com/KyTrK6wMes
— The Jaipur Dialogues (@JaipurDialogues) August 31, 2024
“This is how whitewashing done cinematically,” another user wrote, while an X user commented, “Shame on @anubhavsinha for naming the hijackers as Shankar and Bhola! All the hijackers were Muslim terrorists..”
Shame on @anubhavsinha for naming the Hijackers as Shankar and Bhola!!….All the hijackers were Muslim terrorists….. #IC814TheKandaharHijack
— Anjali Mahesh Mehta (@anjali_trader) August 30, 2024
Kandahar flight hijackers’ original names:
* Ibrahim Athar
* Shahid Akhtar
* Sunny Ahmed
* Zahoor Mistry
* Shakir
Anubhav Sinha hijacker web series IC 814 depicted as:
* Bhola
* Shankar
This is how whitewashing done cinematically pic.twitter.com/8WPzJqExNO
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) August 31, 2024
#Netflix India become fake story peddler pakistan militant sympathizer. 5 guys who #IC814TheKandaharHijack were Ibrahim Akhtar (frm Bahawalpur), Shahid Akhtar Sayeed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry (frm Karachi) and Shakir (frm Sukkur).
Netflix call them sankar & bhola.
— Kunal Singh (@Kunal_Singh__) August 30, 2024
Why you called the Terrorists Names as Shankar and Bhola?@anubhavsinha #IC814TheKandaharHijack pic.twitter.com/qXTdNLc80n
— Middle Class Indian (@middleclass_i) August 29, 2024
The makers are yet to issue an official statement on the brewing controversy.
The IC 814 hijacking and the Pulwama attack – a story of two terror incidents
Besides Vijay Varma, the show also stars Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Patralekhaa, Dia Mirza, Arvind Swamy, and others. It released on Netflix on August 29, and is being lauded for the performances and gripping storyline.
