IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is a Netflix six-episode mini-series created by Anubhav Sinha that features an ensemble cast of some of the best actors in the field. For the unaware, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is based on the real-life hijacking of the Indian Airlines Kathmandu-New Delhi flight IC-814 in 1999 by a group of Islamist terrorists and taken to Kandahar in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan for about eight days. While the hijacking is seen as a black spot in Indian aviation as well as for the politics of India, the Netflix series tries its best to be true to the events, which, of course, means there is always a chance for it to court controversy. Which is what is happening on X for the show. ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ Review: Anubhav Sinha’s Netflix Series Uses Its Brilliant Cast To Give a Gripping Reality Check.
Some netizens are annoyed that two of the terrorists on the show are named 'Bhola' and 'Shankar'. They feel that Anubhav Sinha, known for making hard-hitting dramas but controversial on social vices like Mulk, Article 15, Thappad and Anek, is playing with the sentiments of people in India by naming the terrorists after two names of Lord Shiva.
They are even trending #BoycottNetflix on X to make their ire heard.
See Some of The Reactions on 'IC 814':
'Whitewashing'
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
'Boycott Netflix'
#BoycottNetflix pic.twitter.com/KzeoFtvQ8b
— Ronak Jain (@Jainronak99) August 31, 2024
'In Movie'?
IC 814 Terrorists names - Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar.
In Movie - Shankar & Bhola!
As long as we have people like @anubhavsinha, even Osama bin Laden will also win the Nobel Peace Prize. #BoycottNetflix#BoycottBollywood pic.twitter.com/FNP2BV6zGo
— Rêãl_Çûlprît🇮🇳 (@Brahmin_boy420) September 1, 2024
'Hinduphobic Film'?
Can we Boycott this Hinduphobic film by Netflix & Anubhav Sinha which shows IC814 hijackers named as Bhola & Shankar
Remember how we brought Amir to his knees by ensuring Lal Singh Chadha was a super flop ?
Ab iss movie ko bhi gutter mein daal do #BoycottIC814… pic.twitter.com/sa6FE3Y1Y6
— Kedar (@shintre_kedar) August 31, 2024
'Uninstalled Netflix'
A plane gets hijacked, and the hijacker tells the passengers, "We have no personal enmity with you, so we won't harm you — just bow down." That's when I decided to uninstall @NetflixIndia.#BoycottIC814 pic.twitter.com/nyPJpnPzRL
— Sagar Khandelwal (@Khandelw13Sagar) August 31, 2024
It certainly looks like some netizens aren't even aware that IC 814 is actually a series and not a movie and are just jumping on the bandwagon of boycotting the show that they aren't going to watch anyway.
So what's the truth? Did Anubhav Sinha really give two of the IC 814 terrorists Hindu names? Find out what happened!
The Real Names of IC 814 Terrorists and Their Code-Names
So, if you have seen the Netflix series, you would know that there is hardly any doubt that the five terrorists on board the plane are Islamist terrorists from Pakistan. While the show takes liberties at changing the real names - which is beneficial for the characters based out of India to protect the identities of the victims and also to avoid showing some of our real-life politicians and administrators in a poor light, it has also proved a double-edged sword for Anubhav Sinha's series as well. Save for the brother of the released terrorist Masood Azhar, the show doesn't offer much details about the other hijackers. ‘IC 814–The Kandahar Hijack’ Review: Critics Praise Netflix Series Starring Vijay Varma for ‘Top-Notch Perfor"shareOpen('https://api.whatsapp.com//send?text=%E2%80%98IC+814%3A+The+Kandahar+Hijack%E2%80%99%3A+Pissed+Netizens+Trend+%23BoycottNetflix+Over+Anubhav+Sinha%E2%80%99s+Series+Naming+Terrorists+%E2%80%98Bhola%E2%80%99+and+%E2%80%98Shankar%E2%80%99%2C+but+Here%E2%80%99s+What+Actually+Happened%21 https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latestly.com%2Fentertainment%2Ftv%2Fic-814-the-kandahar-hijack-pissed-netizens-trend-boycottnetflix-over-anubhav-sinhas-series-naming-terrorists-bhola-and-shanker-but-he-5816109.html',900, 600)">