Did Anubhav Sinha’s IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack really twist facts to whitewash hijackers’ religion? Here's the truth

The internet is a vigilant and wild space, where netizens are always ready to pounce on every detail that doesn't align with their sense of right or wrong. The latest fodder for their craving for controversy is Anubhav Sinha’s latest Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The show, based on the longest hijack in history, which occurred in December 1999, features Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, Manoj Pahwa, and a stellar ensemble cast. While the show has been praised by critics for its gripping, edge-of-the-seat drama, it has recently found itself embroiled in controversy. The issue? The terrorists in the show use the code names Shankar and Bhola, which has led to accusations of Sinha "whitewashing" the religion of the hijackers. But is this accusation really justified? Let’s find out. 

Exactly What Happened?

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack recounts the harrowing story of the 1999 hijack that shook the nation. Five terrorists hijacked a Kathmandu-to-Delhi flight with over 180 passengers on board. In the show, the terrorists use code names to address each other in front of the passengers, with two of them choosing the names Shankar and Bhola. This detail did not sit well with a section of the audience, who have since been calling for a ban on both Netflix and the show.

Anubhav Sinha, the creator and director of the show, has been accused of distorting facts to serve a particular ideology. A certain segment of netizens has been vocal in their demands to boycott Netflix and even ban the show altogether. This afternoon, it was even reported that the Central Government has summoned Netflix’s Head of Content to discuss the issue, given the widespread outcry.

Also Read: IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review: Anubhav Sinha weaves reality and drama into an unerring tapestry

But Did Anubhav Sinha Really Distort Facts?

No, Anubhav Sinha did not distort the facts. According to available documents, the terrorists involved in the hijack did indeed use the names Shankar and Bhola as code names. The hijackers were identified as Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, and Shakir. However, to conceal their real identities from the passengers on the flight, they used code names. As per a statement made by the then Union Home Minister on January 6, 2000, the hijackers used code names such as Chief, Doctor, Burger, Shankar, and Bhola.

The statement (via The Quint) reads, “To the passengers of the hijacked plane, these hijackers came to be known respectively as Shankar, the names by which the hijackers invariably addressed one another.”

Several other sources, which have written about the hijacking on which IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is based, have also mentioned the names Shankar and Bhola in their reports. This further confirms that Anubhav Sinha stayed true to the facts. The filmmaker, known for his nuanced movies like Thappad, Article 15, and Mulk, is now being questioned for simply sticking to the truth.

You can watch IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack on Netflix now. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more updates on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.

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