'Not a documentary': Patralekhaa defends 'IC 814' amid controversy
Patralekhaa, one of the actors in the recently released series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, has responded to allegations of distorting facts and whitewashing terrorism. In an interview with HT City, she clarified that the show is not a documentary but a fictionalized account. "This is not a documentary, clearly. It's a show that has been written and, obviously, some parts have been imagined," she stated. The show is streaming on Netflix.
'It's a collaborative effort to bring authenticity...to the role'
Patralekhaa, who portrays a cabin crew member highlighted that many characters did not use real names from the actual incident. She described this as an earnest attempt to respect the source material while providing a fresh interpretation. "It's a collaborative effort to bring authenticity and personal touch to the role," she added. The show has been directed by Anubhav Sinha.
Patralekhaa's personal connection and challenges with 'IC 814'
Patralekhaa shared her personal connection to the hijacking incident, recalling vivid memories from her childhood. "I remember the hijacking incident from my childhood and the dramatic images from the news, of men with big guns. That was my first memory of Kandahar." "Eventually, these are stories and it was exciting to be part of a well-written one. Moreover, to be part of a series with such stalwarts would remain a very sweet part of my career trajectory."
'IC 814' revisits the 1999 Indian Airlines hijacking incident
The series is based on the real-life hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 on December 24, 1999. Five terrorists— Ibrahim Athar, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhter, and Sayed Shakir—seized control of the aircraft with at least 154 passengers and crew onboard just 40 minutes after departure from Kathmandu for Delhi. This event was a significant part of India's history and has been etched in public memory since then.
