The release of Netflix’s latest Hindi series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, has sparked discussions that have strayed from its core narrative, drawing attention instead to peripheral details. However, the heart of the series remains a powerful testament to the courage and resilience displayed by the passengers and crew of flight IC 814. The hijacking, which ended after a tense week-long negotiation that saw the release of three high-profile terrorists, including Masood Azhar, is a story of survival and determination.
Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the series is based on Flight Into Fear, co-authored by Captain Devi Sharan and journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury. Actor Vijay Varma portrays Sharan in the Netflix adaptation, and recently, Netflix brought Varma and the real Captain Sharan together for an insightful interaction. The conversation saw the two exchange personal reflections, but one particularly moving moment occurred when Varma asked Sharan how he felt about returning to the cockpit after such a harrowing ordeal. “I was back in after four days,” Sharan revealed, leaving Varma visibly surprised.
Sharan shared more about the advice that led him to return so soon. “One of my very good friends suggested that I fly my next flight before the incident settled in my mind as a trauma or a phobia. He advised that I start flying as soon as possible if I want to continue in this line of work,” Sharan said. He also reflected on how the hijacking impacted his outlook on life: “I was a totally changed person. I started appreciating even the smallest things in my life.”
Before the incident, Sharan admitted, “I used to ignore the small things, but I stopped taking things for granted after that. I used to not acknowledge a lot of things back then, but I realised that life was very, very unpredictable. Those 7-8 days were a learning experience, for sure. After that, I started travelling a lot with my wife and family. I mean, I try to live life to the fullest.”
IC-814 The Kandahar Hijack, which features Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, Arvind Swamy and Dia Mirza has been well-received by critics. However, a section of social media users had demanded for the boycott of the series for allegedly hiding the real identities of the terrorists involved in the 1999 incident.
In the series, the terrorists were named Bhola, Shankar, Doctor, Burger and Chief. The series seemingly hinted that the terrorists had codenames. However, the hijackers were Muslims from Pakistan. This had irked many, who have called it “whitewashing”.
Following the backlash, Netflix agreed to update the disclaimer of the series and mentioned the real names of the hijackers. The decision came after officials of the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry met Netflix representatives over the alleged misrepresentation of facts in the new series.
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