As the Netflix series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ finds itself embroiled in controversy over the portrayal of the terrorists involved in the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814, filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has come forward in staunch defense of his close friend and the show’s creator, Anubhav Sinha. According to Mishra, the uproar surrounding the series is unwarranted and misrepresents Sinha’s intentions.
The controversy stems from the modification of the terrorists’ names in the show, with some viewers taking issue with the use of Hindu code names, arguing that it distorts the historical record. In response, Netflix updated the series’ disclaimer to reflect both the real and code names of the hijackers. Mishra, renowned for films like ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’ and ‘Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin’, was quick to praise Sinha’s work on the series and address the criticism head-on.
“He has made the series quite thoughtfully. It is up to you to react or not react. But I found it to be very good,” Mishra stated to PTI, dismissing the backlash. He added, “Now if you say, Anubhav Sinha is not patriotic, then it is very wrong because I know him very well.”
Mishra was firm in his defense of Sinha’s patriotism, emphasizing his friend’s deep-rooted connection to his country. “You will not find a more patriotic Indian than Anubhav Sinha… He is very patriotic, he grew up in Benaras and studied in Aligarh. ‘Ram Ram*/’ kehte bada hua hai. It would be wrong to say bad things about him,” Mishra insisted.
The series, which boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Vijay Varma, Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, Arvind Swamy, Dia Mirza, and Patralekhaa, has also faced criticism on social media for what some have called a “humane” depiction of the terrorists involved in the hijacking. But for Mishra, this approach is essential to effective storytelling.
“Sinha was only following the ‘dharma of storytelling,’” Mishra explained. “Otherwise, how will anyone play it? If you show a character as a villain and he just roars and shouts, then you will not identify him in real life. A villain looks like a human but there is evil beneath the skin. One should learn to identify that.”
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