Anubhav Sinha dismisses backlash against Netflix series ‘gobar,’ deflects blame for controversy surrounding IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack adaptation
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has sparked numerous controversies since its release, with allegations of whitewashing the terrorists’ religion and factual inaccuracies. Despite this, everyone involved in this Netflix series has vehemently denied the accusations, including director Anubav Sinha who spoke to Mukesh Chhabra.
When asked about the mixed reception of IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, Anubhav expressed his confusion, stating, “It’s confusing. On one side there is a lot of love, and on the other, there is crap.” He was then questioned about his responsibility for the negativity and controversy.
Sinha replied straightforwardly, “No, I don’t take myself that seriously. I just want to do my job with absolute sincerity and hard work. I wouldn’t have taken this on if I didn’t love the story. The universe is both destructive and constructive.”
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Despite facing backlash, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack received critical acclaim. The controversy began on social media with calls for boycotts and demands to change the names of the hijackers. Allegations were also made about the film protecting terrorists from a specific community.
This Netflix series is based on the book Flight Into Fear: The Captain’s Story by Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury, recounting the December 24, 1999 hijack of Indian Airlines IC-814 by five terrorists using code names.
After the uproar and a summons from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Netflix added a disclaimer to clarify any misunderstandings. This, along with positive reviews, helped calm the controversy.
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