Neelesh Misra, the author of the book that inspired Netflix’s IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, has addressed the criticism regarding the altered names of the terrorists in the series. The show depicts the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, and critics have pointed out the changes made to the hijackers’ names. Misra has clarified that the hijackers used various names in real life.
Here’s Why IC 814’s Makers Changed The Names Of Terrorists In The Show
According to reports, the real hijackers were named Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny, Ahmad Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir. In the series, they are referred to as Bhola, Shankar, Doctor, Burger, and Chief.
Neelesh Misra, who authored the book that inspired the series, clarified on X/Twitter, “All the hijackers assumed false names. That is how they referred to each other and how the passengers referred to them throughout the hijacking — Regards, the author of the first book on the IC-814 hijacking”. Later Anubhav Sinha reposted his tweet on his X handle.
Additionally, Mukesh Chhabra, a well-known casting director, noted that the terrorists in the 1999 IC 814 hijacking used “nicknames or false names” when interacting. He wrote on his X/Twitter, “I am reading so many tweets about the names of the hijackers. We did the proper research. They used to call each other by those names—nicknames or fake names, whatever you want to call them. And thank you, everyone, for loving the ensemble cast. A big thank you to my team, and especially to Anubhav Sinha for trusting us and giving me the freedom to explore. #IC814 #Netflix,”
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Controversy And Boycott Calls
For the unversed, numerous users on X have criticized the series for altering the hijackers’ names to ‘Shankar’ and ‘Bhola,’ alleging that this was done to shield the terrorists’ community. As a result, hashtags like #BoycottNetflix, #BoycottBollywood, and #IC814 are trending on the platform.
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has also come under fire from critics who accuse director Anubhav Sinha of “deliberate distortion of facts” and using the series for “propaganda.” One critic described the series as a “disturbing effort to rewrite history, minimize the terror caused by the actual hijackers, and subtly glorify their actions.”
About IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack
Directed by Anubhav Sinha, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is a series centered on the 1999 hijacking of an Indian aircraft. The hijacking took place on December 24, 1999, just 40 minutes after the plane departed from Kathmandu. The series premiered on Netflix on August 29.
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