Veteran director Sudhir Mishra dismisses the controversy surrounding ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’, praising Anubhav Sinha for his patriotism. Mishra asserts, “It’s hard to find a more patriotic Indian than Anubhav Sinha. He has approached the story with great thought and care.”
Sinha’s show, which dramatises the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814, has sparked controversy. Some viewers have objected to the use of Hindu code names for the terrorists, arguing that it distorts historical accuracy. In response to the backlash, Netflix updated the show’s opening disclaimer to include both the real and code names of the hijackers.
Mishra, known for his critically acclaimed films like ‘Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin’ and ‘Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi’, and a close friend of Sinha, praised the show. “I found the series to be very well-crafted,” he said. “It’s up to individuals to react or not react. But claiming that Anubhav Sinha is not patriotic is completely incorrect, as I know him very well.”
“You won’t find a more patriotic Indian than Anubhav Sinha,” Mishra stated. “He’s deeply patriotic, having grown up in Benaras and studied in Aligarh. He’s a sincere person, and it would be wrong to speak negatively about him.”
The show, which boasts a stellar cast including Vijay Varma, Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah, Arvind Swamy, Dia Mirza, and Patralekhaa, faced criticism on social media for its empathetic portrayal of the terrorists. Mishra, however, believes that Sinha was simply fulfilling the “dharma (duty) of storytelling.”
