The head of Netflix India, Monika Shergill, met with the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to address contentious issues surrounding the web series ‘IC-814- The Kandahar Hijack.’ The series, based on the real-life hijacking in 1999, has sparked significant controversy.
Key Takeaways
- Monika Shergill, head of Netflix India, met with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- The meeting was held to address issues related to the web series ‘IC-814- The Kandahar Hijack.’
- The series has faced backlash for its portrayal of the hijackers.
- A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed seeking a ban on the series.
- BJP leader Amit Malviya criticized the series for allegedly distorting facts.
Government’s Stance
The meeting took place at Shastri Bhawan, with government sources emphasizing the importance of respecting India’s culture and civilization. "Nobody has the right to play with the sentiments of the people of this nation. India’s culture and civilization should always be respected. You should think before portraying something in a wrong manner. The government is taking it very seriously," said a government source.
Netflix’s Defense
Netflix representatives came prepared with research documents and footage to support their stance. They argued that the series is based on publicly available resources, including books and government statements. The platform aims to show that the series is in accordance with factual information.
Public Backlash
The series has triggered a row on social media, particularly over the depiction of the hijackers. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Delhi High Court by Surjit Singh Yadav, Chief of Hindu Sena, seeking a ban on the series. The PIL alleges that the series distorts the actual identities of the terrorists involved in the hijacking, assigning them Hindu names such as "Bhola" and "Shankar," which are associated with Lord Shiva.
Political Criticism
BJP leader Amit Malviya also criticized the series, accusing filmmaker Anubhav Sinha of legitimizing the criminal intent of the hijackers. "The hijackers of IC-814 were dreaded terrorists, who acquired aliases to hide their Muslim identities. Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha legitimized their criminal intent by furthering their non-Muslim names. Result? Decades later, people will think Hindus hijacked IC-814," Malviya said in a post on X.
The controversy surrounding ‘IC-814- The Kandahar Hijack’ continues to unfold, with both sides presenting their arguments. The outcome of the meeting and the PIL will likely determine the future of the series.