Netflix Updates IC-814 Series to Include Real Names of Hijackers Following Government Criticism

The controversy surrounding the Netflix web series IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack has prompted the streaming giant to take significant action. The series, which depicts the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814, faced backlash for using Hindu names, "Shankar" and "Bhola," for the hijackers, leading to public outrage.

In response to the criticism, Netflix held a press conference where it announced that the real and code names of the hijackers will be updated in the show's disclaimer. This decision came after a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, who had summoned Netflix India’s Content Head, Monika Shergill, on September 2nd. During the press conference, a statement was read twice in English by host RJ Mantra, addressing the controversy and the forthcoming changes.

The web series, directed by Anubhav Sinha, premiered on Netflix on August 29, 2023, and has since been the subject of heated debate on social media. Critics argued that the use of Hindu names for the terrorists was inappropriate and offensive. The controversy escalated to the point where the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting intervened, summoning Netflix India to explain the choice of names.

Following the government meeting, Netflix agreed to update the series with both the real and code names of the hijackers. While Monika Shergill was unable to attend the press conference due to her commitments in Delhi, the event featured several prominent figures from the series, including Anubhav Sinha, Pankaj Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Naseeruddin Shah, Kumud Mishra, Vijay Varma, and others.

In their statement, Netflix emphasized their commitment to making necessary changes to the series and ensuring that future content will be sensitive to the sentiments of the audience. The company also reassured the government that they are willing to make adjustments to address any objections raised.

The update to the series is expected to address the concerns of those who felt that the original portrayal was disrespectful to Hindu sentiments. With this move, Netflix aims to mitigate the backlash and ensure that the series can be viewed without further controversy.