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Netflix’s ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ series will make you shiver with fear. The longest hijack in Indian aviation history, Anubhav Sinha’s directorial is true to the core. read more
 "Vijay Varma’s performance is top notch in this highly immersive series")
Anubhav Sinha’s directorial & Netflix's 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' Review
Language: Hindi
Director: Anubhav Sinha
Cast: Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Arvind Swami, Dia Mirza and Amrita Puri,
There are many unanswered questions which will probably be answered in Netflix’s IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, as to why Katmandu was chosen, who did the hijack and why? Why did Kandahar happen? Who was Rupin Katyal? Was it a diplomatic failure? And for this you need to watch this most engaging show on the digital platform.
Most importantly, Netflix’s IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is a tightly made series with minor cinematic liberties that doesn’t mislead. It’s a well-made and well researched show done in a responsible manner. I would say it’s another masterpiece like Netflix’s Kaala Paani and Kohrra. With no beating around the bush, when the storytelling is brilliant, then half the battle is won. It’s a beautifully weaved hostage drama made in the most responsible and sensible manner.
With a string of veteran actors including Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, and Arvind Swami. But the main lead of the series was definitely the brilliant Vijay Varma, who played the role of Captain Devi Sharan, the man who saved the lives of 187 out of 188 passengers in the aircraft. With so many veteran craftsmen with little screen time did justice to the time given to them on the show and most importantly every character was important. The most challenging bit for filmmaker was showing the series from different perspectives whether it were the hijackers, captain, cabin crew, the passengers, the ministers, diplomats and the journalists. Vijay Varma is known for his brilliant craft has shown how a hero doesn’t need to flex his muscles to connect with his audience. Captain Devi Sharan (Vijay Varma) understood that to maintain his cool was the need of the hour.
Netflix’s IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is a high-stakes drama that begs the question: Do we truly know all that transpired in those seven days? Produced by Matchbox Shots in association with Benaras Mediaworks, Anubhav Sinha’s directorial streaming debut is inspired by real events.
The hijackers had just one single aim and that was to free one of the most dangerous terrorists, Maulana Masood Azhar. Masood was jailed in India for more than four years. Netflix’s show mentions that Masood was sure that he will be freed and that was the entire reason that IC 814 was hijacked.
Going back to the story which filmmaker Sinha has shown with every minute details tells what lead to this fateful day of December 24, 1999. The Netflix’s show starts with images and backstories when Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 embarked on its journey from Kathmandu to New Delhi, unaware that it was on the brink of plunging into the heart of a dramatic seven-day odyssey of terror and intrigue.
Adapted from the book Flight Into Fear by Captain Devi Sharan, the pilot on board the hijacked flight, IC814: The Kandahar Hijack delves into the crisis from various perspectives – the politicians and bureaucrats in Delhi’s War Room to the terrified hostages on board.
Five masked men hijacked the aircraft on 24 December 1999, 40 minutes after it took off from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, bound for New Delhi. The hijackers forced the aircraft to land in multiple locations across South Asia and the Middle East before the crisis was resolved in Kandahar, Afghanistan, seven days later.
Netflix’s IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack makes us realise how Afghanistan actually helped us in rescuing the passengers. Through the show we get an idea of the classic Stockholm syndrome, where the captive and the captor develop a fondness and liking for each other. The show captures minute details when we see the passengers playing Antakshari with the hijackers. They start empathising with the victims.
Hats off to the director’s eye for details. Every passenger shown in Netflix’s IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has done his/her role to perfection whether it is the elderly gentleman or the special kid trapped in the aircraft. The show again very clearly says how television is always in a hurry and in this process gives quickly cooked up news which aren’t really true. Dia Mirza who plays the role of an editor handles this sensitive issue in very responsible manner along with another senior journalist played by Amrita Puri.
There was diplomatic failure and many soldiers and their families still believe that to save the passengers, they left the militants. History will not see this very kindly, but what options did they have. But what option did they have, not much I guess. We all know that such an event shouldn’t happen and 25 years later when the airport security check has become extremely strict, we will find ourselves questioning why did we let this happen?
Rating: 4 out of 5
WATCH the trailer of Netflix ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ here:
Lachmi Deb Roy is the entertainment editor of Firtspost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes huge interest in world cinema. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until its a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too. see more
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English (US) ·