IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack trailer - Anubhav Sinha's high-stakes drama brings unseen stories of India's aviation nightmare

An unsettling announcement initiated a hijack that would irrevocably alter the course of Indian aviation history as a regular flight climbed into the winter sky. As the plane made emergency landings in four different nations throughout the night, the passengers on board experienced escalating horror. At the same time, outside mediators were working against the clock to guarantee that all 189 passengers would be safe. Premiering on August 29, the new trailer for IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, a Netflix original, reveals the high-stakes drama and makes us wonder: What else happened in those seven days?

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack: Flight's descent into crisis

Based on true events, Anubhav Sinha's directorial debut on the streaming platform Matchbox Shots is a collaboration with Benaras Mediaworks. The show, which is based on the book Flight Into Fear by Captain Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury, sheds light on the delicate diplomacy that goes on in the War Room in Delhi and the heated exchanges that take place at the Negotiation Station in Kandahar.

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Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content, Netflix India, stated that an enthralling story that recounts one of the longest hijackings in Indian history, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, provides a factual depiction of a monumental international crisis. Directed by Sinha, renowned for his harsh and realistic cinema, the series not only relates the events but also immerses viewers in the emotional turmoil of a nation gripped by terror, optimism, and despair. This is an absolute must-see due to its compelling plot, jaw-dropping special effects, and outstanding acting from an A-list ensemble.

Anubhav Sinha's return to series format

The filmmaker shared that he couldn't refuse an offer from Netflix and Matchbox Shots to tell the story of IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, twenty-seven years after he made a series Sea Hawks. The writer, Trishant, dove in with the assumption that most of the data is readily available online. They wanted to chew on something more succulent after all the documentaries, vlogs, and articles came out. Passengers and crew members filled in on what happened on board, and they talked with officials from Delhi who were in charge of the rescue mission. With the addition of Adrian Levy—a renowned writer, author, and filmmaker hailing from London—a whole new global stage became visible. What transpired over the course of those seven days is an enthralling tale that weaves between nerve-wracking but necessary diplomatic and tactical moves. The audience must be familiar with this previously untold tale whose protagonists are uncertain he can reassemble.

Matchbox Shots producer Sanjay Routray has been working on The Kandahar Hijack, a series, nonstop for the last five years, and it will debut on Netflix. They are thrilled to announce the release of this series, which builds on their ongoing success with Netflix through previous projects such as Monica, O My Darling and Scoop. Thanks to Sinha's visionary directing and Netflix's worldwide audience, they know that this series will inspire people all over the world to remember the Indians who displayed extraordinary bravery during the hijack of the Kandahar Airfield.

Star-studded cast to recount the hijack

Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Kapur are among the esteemed actors in the series, which also stars Vijay Varma, Arvind Swami, Dia Mirza, Patralekhaa, Amrita Puri, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Anupam Tripathi, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Sushant Singh, Aditya Srivastava, Rajeev Thakur, and Yashpal Sharma.

On August 29, only on Netflix, watch the heroes of IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack emerge from the carnage.

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