IC 814 web series: Netflix updates opening disclaimer amid row over hijackers' code names

Directed by Anubhav Sinha and featuring a stellar cast of Vijay Varma, Patralekhaa, Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, Arvind Swamy, Dia Mirza, the series chronicles the true story of the December 1999 hijack

OTT platform Netflix India said on Tuesday that it has updated the opening disclaimer of its latest series "IC814: The Kandahar Hijack", which is in the centre of a controversy over its depiction of hijackers' code names.

'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' is based on the real life hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight IC 814 by Pakistani terrorists in 1999. The flight, enroute to Delhi from Kathmandu, was captured after takeoff from the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal shortly after it entered Indian airspace.

A controversy erupted over the names of the terrorists used by the show makers following which Netflix India's content head Monika Shergill was summoned by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

"For the benefit of audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, the opening disclaimer has been updated to include the real and code names of the hijackers," said Shergill.

"The code names in the series reflect those used during the actual event. India has a rich culture of storytelling — and we are committed to showcasing these stories and their authentic representation," she said in the statement.

Earlier today, Shergill met Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju in New Delhi amid a row over the series. The show has been created by Anubhav Sinha and it features Vijay Varma, Patralekhaa, Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, Arvind Swamy, Dia Mirza, and others.

The series has sparked debate on social media platforms and beyond with many claiming that the makers altered the names of the hijackers to 'Shankar' and 'Bhola' to allegedly shield the identities of the actual terrorists, who they say belonged to a specific community.

Hashtags such as #BoycottNetflix, #BoycottBollywood and #IC814 trended on social media amid an uproar over the series.