Controversy Over IC 814 Series: Netizens Criticize Terrorist Names

Controversy Surrounds Vijay Varma’s Web Series “IC 814” Over Name Changes

Vijay Varma, known for his impactful roles in web series and films, has found himself at the center of a controversy with his latest project, “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack.” Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the series has sparked a significant backlash for allegedly altering facts related to the real-life 1999 hijacking incident, leading to a boycott trend against Netflix on social media.

Vijay Varma’s Rising Success and the Backlash

Vijay Varma has been steadily making a name for himself as a promising actor, delivering back-to-back hits in the digital space. However, his professional success has recently been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding his latest web series. The show, which depicts the harrowing 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by Pakistani terrorists, has been criticized for changing the terrorists’ names to ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar,’ causing a stir among viewers.

Netizens Outraged Over Name Changes

The web series has stirred up a major controversy due to the renaming of the terrorists. Originally identified as Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir, these individuals were part of a Pakistan-based terrorist group. The series, however, refers to them by more benign names, leading to accusations that the creators, including director Anubhav Sinha, have tampered with historical facts. This has not gone down well with the audience, who have taken to social media to express their displeasure, questioning the motivations behind the name changes.

Social Media Backlash and Boycott Calls

The series has faced severe backlash on social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), where users have voiced their concerns over the portrayal. Many have criticized the series for what they see as an attempt to whitewash history, with some calling for a boycott of Netflix. Comments have ranged from questioning the necessity of changing the terrorists’ names to outright accusations of distorting historical facts.

This controversy highlights the sensitivity surrounding historical events and the responsibility of filmmakers to handle such topics with care and accuracy.