Why netizens are boycotting Anubhav Sinha's 'IC 814'
What's the story
The newly released series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, directed by Anubhav Sinha, has sparked controversy among social media users.
Critics have lauded the performances in the series, which recounts the tragic 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by terrorists.
However, several netizens have accused the series of "whitewashing" the events and expressed discontent over the alleged altered names of the terrorists involved.
Altered identities
Name changes in series ignite accusations of whitewashing
In the actual 1999 hijacking, the terrorists were identified as Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmad Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir.
However, in Sinha's series, these individuals are referred to as Bhola, Shankar, Doctor, Burger and Chief.
This alteration has led to claims that the series is attempting to downplay the terrorists' identities and "saving" them.
Allleged historical distortion
Critics claim the series distorts historical facts
Netizens argue that the name changes not only distort historical facts but also undermine the gravity of the incident.
They believe that altering names removes crucial cultural and religious context necessary for understanding the terrorists' motives.
These alleged alterations have led to accusations of the series being "pro-terrorist" and "anti-government" in its storytelling approach.
Some viewers also feel that the show paints the government in a negative light.
Fact check
Fact check: What does MEA say about the names?
Meanwhile, another section is supporting Sinha while quoting the Ministry of External Affairs.
A 2000 statement by MEA confirms that Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola, and Shankar were the code names used by the terrorists during the long hijacking.
Despite this, the boycott calls rage on.
The show, streaming on Netflix, features Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, Manoj Pahwa, and Arvind Swamy.