Vir Sanghvi Criticizes Netflix’s IC 814 Series for Historical Inaccuracies

Veteran Indian journalist Vir Sanghvi has strongly criticized the Netflix’s IC 814 Series: Kandahar Hijack, calling it a “lie.” The series, based on the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 by terrorists, has sparked controversy for its portrayal of the event and its hijackers. Many viewers were outraged that the show renamed the Pakistani terrorists as “Bhola” and “Shankar,” after Hindu deities, leading to accusations of distorting facts.

 

 Fact vs. Fiction: Sanghvi’s Critique of the Series

In a detailed blog post, Sanghvi addressed the inaccuracies in the show, arguing that the series distorts the truth about the hijacking. He emphasized that the hijacking was orchestrated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), a detail the series allegedly glosses over. “This is an outright lie,” Sanghvi wrote. “The hijacking was an ISI operation, part of a covert war that Pakistan has been waging against India for decades.”

 

Sanghvi pointed out that the series introduces fabricated elements, including an Indian agent stalking a Pakistani diplomat and portraying an Afghan as the mastermind of the operation. He criticized the show for not mentioning the hijackers’ Pakistani origin, despite Indian intelligence agencies having confirmed it.

 

 A Critique of the Show’s Misrepresentation of Events

Sanghvi expressed frustration with how the show frames the narrative. “Why does an Indian TV show cancel all this? Why is it focusing on a suspected al-Qaeda link to avoid the ISI?” he asked. He condemned the series for creating “deliberate evasions and fabrications,” which he argued turn the show into “an expensive PR affair for the ISI.”

 

Sanghvi also criticized the depiction of India’s intelligence agencies and the government’s response to the hijacking, calling it “inaccurate” and “childish.” He pointed out that the show wrongly suggests that Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) had advance intelligence about the hijacking and attempted to intercept the plane. Sanghvi called these fabrications “insulting” and noted that the portrayal of events undermines India’s official response to the crisis.

 

 A Generational Misinformation: Sanghvi’s Larger Concerns

One of Sanghvi’s main concerns is the impact the series will have on younger viewers who are not familiar with the true events of the IC 814 hijacking. He warned that these distortions could become accepted as historical facts. “If you lie about a hugely important event in our recent history to a generation too young to remember what actually happened, your lies become the accepted version, and the truth is buried,” he wrote.

 On the Hijackers’ Names and the Right-Wing-Liberal Divide

Addressing the controversy over the use of Hindu names for the hijackers, Sanghvi clarified that the names “Bhola” and “Shankar” were actually used by the terrorists during the hijacking. He argued that accurately portraying this detail is not an attack on the Hindu community, but a factual representation of what occurred.

 

Sanghvi also criticized both sides of the political discourse surrounding the series. He acknowledged that while the Hindu right-wing campaign against the show is vocal, the liberal defense that the series is largely factual is equally misguided.

 

 The Controversy Surrounding the Series’ Production

Sanghvi dismissed some conspiracy theories about the series’ production, including claims that it was shot in Jordan to appease certain political interests. He also addressed the role of Adrian Levy, the British journalist who co-wrote the series, acknowledging that Indian intelligence agencies have accused Levy of sympathizing with the ISI. However, Sanghvi refrained from making definitive judgments about these claims.

 

 

Conclusion: Sanghvi’s Disappointment with the Series

In conclusion, Sanghvi expressed deep disappointment with the Netflix series, directed by Anubhav Sinha and written by Adrian Levy and Trishant Srivastava. He argued that the series not only distorts historical facts but also sends the wrong message to audiences about one of the most significant incidents in India’s recent history. The show, produced by Sarita Patil and Sanjay Routray, stars an ensemble cast including Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapoor, Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, and Arvind Swamy.

The controversy surrounding the series reached new heights when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting summoned Netflix’s head of content, Monica Shergill, to address the concerns earlier this week.