IC 814 Emerges To be The Most Viewed OTT Original, Even After Controversy

The OTT original "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack" has emerged as a name in the most-watched category, despite shrouding itself in controversy. The series has been elaborated on regarding the thrilling hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight in 1999.

05 Sep 2024
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IC 814 Emerges To be The Most Viewed OTT Original, Even After Controversy

"IC 814" is a dramatized account of the nightmarish incidents that took place in December 1999 when a terrorist group from Pakistan hijacked Indian Airlines Flight IC 814. This film catches the chilling moments when the plane, scheduled from Kathmandu to Delhi, is seized by hijackers who want the freedom of key militants lodged in Indian prisons. The story narrates the high-pressure negotiations between the Indian government, headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the terrorists as complex questions of political and security challenges are thrown up. It chronicles the passengers' emotional turbulence, crew bravery, and also the strategic moves by the Indian authorities in dealing with the precarious situation to come out with a resolution without jeopardizing anybody's lives on board. The movie illustrates, in empathetic and exciting detail, the feed of counter-terrorism and crisis management during the most critical period of aviation in India.


IC 814 Becomes The Most Watched OTT Original Even After The Heated Controversy


Despite controversy over the portrayal of the hijacking of the 1999 Indian Airlines Flight IC 814, "IC 814" has received widespread attention and has gone on to be one of the most viewed OTT originals. The miniseries has been lauded for an engrossing narrative and high production values, which deeply enthralled audiences and fueled its popularity on streaming platforms. However, it has been highly criticized for the portrayal of the hijackers and giving them Hindu names, like "Bhola" and "Shankar," generally used as synonyms with Lord Shiva. This creative change has been widely condemned for doing poor justice to the identities of the hijackers-Ibrahim Akhtar, Shahid Akhtar Sayeed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir-and leading to misleading information. Other critics further argue that dramatization of such a nature may distort facts and alter public perception about the happenings. Despite these criticisms, the series remains highly popular-a factor expressing both the strong appeal of such drama and the sensitivities involved in bringing sensitive historical events onto the screen.


IC 814 Cast


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