Union Govt Questions Netflix on Portrayal of ISI in IC-814, ‘Obscenity’ in Other Content

New Delhi: The Union information and broadcasting ministry in a meeting with Netflix representatives on Tuesday (September 3) questioned the lack of depiction of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the show IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack.

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The show which premiered on the streaming platform on August 29 has been embroiled in controversy over the use of ‘Hindu’ codenames for the hijackers, even though a government press release from January 6, 2000 shows they were used in reality.

The meeting was held between I&B secretary Sanjay Jaju and vice-president of content at Netflix India Monika Shergill, the Indian Express reported.

“For the benefit of audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, the opening disclaimer has been updated to include the real and code names of the hijackers,” a statement released by Shergill after the meeting read.

“The code names in the series reflect those used during the actual event. India has a rich culture of storytelling and we are committed to showcasing these stories and their authentic representation,” it added.

According to the report, the Union government also questioned the portrayal of ISI in the show and how an episode “absolves” the agency of the role it played in the hijacking. It is said to have been brought up in the meeting that while the show uses archival footage to factually depict certain aspects, it leaves other facts out.

The Union government also flagged “obscene” content in other foreign shows and films that are available on the platform, saying that these were not in line with ‘Indian values’.

While summoning Netflix representatives on Monday, it was conveyed to them by the government that they must keep religious sentiments and sensitivities of the public in mind.

A controversy broke out on social media over the use of ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’ as codenames for two hijackers aboard the Indian Airlines flight, with many accusing the show’s director Anubhav Sinha of ‘cinematic whitewashing’ and defaming Hindus. Among those who objected to the use of these names were several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and right-wing influencers.

A Union home ministry statement from January, 2000, shows that these code names were indeed used by the hijackers and were not Sinha’s invention. The book titled Flight Into Fear written by Captain Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury also confirms the use of these codenames.