Veteran filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has come to the defense of director Anubhav Sinha, following the controversy surrounding the Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The show, which dramatises the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814, faced backlash from viewers over the portrayal of terrorists using Hindu code names. Mishra dismissed the allegations, praising Sinha’s patriotic values and thoughtful storytelling.
Sudhir Mishra DEFENDS Anubhav Sinha amid IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack controversy: “He has made the series quite thoughtfully”
Controversy Surrounding IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack
For the unversed, a section of viewers has raised concerns over the use of Hindu code names for the terrorists, arguing that this choice distorts historical facts and misrepresents the hijackers. The portrayal has stirred debate, leading Netflix to update the series’ opening disclaimer to clarify that both real and code names are used.
Despite the criticism, Sudhir Mishra believes the controversy is misplaced. He told PTI, “He has made the series quite thoughtfully. It is up to you to react or not react. But I found it to be very good… Now if you say, Anubhav Sinha is not patriotic, then it is very wrong because I know him very well.”
Sudhir Mishra’s Support for Anubhav Sinha
Sudhir Mishra praised Anubhav Sinha’s work on the series. Mishra pointed out that Sinha has a deep connection with India, having grown up in Benaras and studied in Aligarh. He added, “You will not find a more patriotic Indian than Anubhav Sinha.”
Depiction of Terrorists and the “Dharma of Storytelling”
One of the aspects of IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack that drew further criticism was the alleged “humane” portrayal of the terrorists. Social media users have voiced concerns that the series may appear to soften the image of those involved in the hijacking.
Mishra, however, sees this as a deliberate narrative choice, explaining that storytelling often requires layered portrayals. “If you show a character as a villain and he just roars and shouts, you won’t identify him in real life. A villain looks like a human, but there is evil beneath the skin,” Mishra stated, adding that Sinha was simply following the “dharma of storytelling” by giving depth to the antagonists.
Speaking of the show, it started streaming on Netflix from August 29. It stars Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Dia Mirza and Arvind Swamy, among others.
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