Anubhav Sinha, known for his bold and thought-provoking films, is no stranger to controversy. His latest web series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’, streaming on Netflix, has sparked debate as some viewers accused the show of deliberately obscuring the religious identity of the five terrorists who hijacked an Indian Airlines flight in 1999. This isn’t the first time Sinha has faced pushback. His earlier films, such as ‘Bheed’ (2023), ‘Mulk’ (2018), and ‘Article 15’ (2019), also encountered challenges during the certification process, leading to changes and long discussions before receiving clearance.
In a recent interview with indianexpress.com, ahead of the release of ‘IC 814’, Sinha discussed the role of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and its impact on creative freedom. Addressing the constraints filmmakers face, he said, “If it is a Utopian question then everything should be made and released, but there is a law of the land and if the law of the land tells me if you don’t do this, you can’t release your film.” He continued, “I will have to follow the law of the land. Now, I can’t have cerebral utopian conversation about it. CBFC is the law of the land. It tells me, ‘Anubhav, if you want to release your film, you have to delete this,’ I have to delete this. As simple as that.”
When asked if this censorship compromises artistic creativity, the ‘Thappad’ director was candid: “It is a compromise with the creativity of a film, it’s not what if. It is. But, it is the law of the land.”
Recently, ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ was asked to add a disclaimer following a controversy over the use of aliases for the hijackers, such as Bhola and Shankar, instead of their real names— Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, and Shakir.
News18 Showsha gave the series a 3.5/5 rating and wrote, “IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack is a gripping series elevated by its stellar cast. The performances of Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, Patralekhaa, Kumud Mishra, and Arvind Swami add layers of complexity to an already tense storyline, making it a must-watch for those interested in historical dramas and real-life events.”
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