IC 814 was taken over by a group of terrorists on December 24, 1999, after it took off from Kathmandu. The aircraft was forced to land at Amritsar due to a fuel shortage, and the authorities intended to restore order while it was on Indian territory. The situation became out of control for the Indian authorities when the hijackers compelled the captain to take off. IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack shows us the movements and demands of the terrorists, the preparation and participation of those responsible for the hijack, and the conflicts and debates inside the security agency personnel that transpired over those six days.
In the history of Independent India, the hijacking of IC 814 is one incident that is seen as a security agency disaster because the government had to release terrorists to rescue our nationals who were imprisoned onboard that aircraft. But rather than attempting to be a political critique, the new Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack focusses more on illustrating the challenges the authorities faced in coming to decisions and the emotional trauma that the crew and passengers endured throughout the entire ordeal. IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is a compelling account of a true story, with the staging of all the conversations feeling very convincing and the plot covering nearly every part of the event from a backend point of view.
IC 814: The Review of the Kandahar Hijack: Overview
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack recounts the eight days of anguish experienced by the 200 passengers and flying crew. The terrible day of December 24, 1999, continues to haunt individuals who witnessed this terrible and tragic incident. All of the people who participated in this operation are still affected by this experience. Individuals who were confined and those who ensured everyone’s safe release.
Anubhav Sinha’s web series gets right to the point: What transpired during the seven days that the Indian government took to negotiate with the terrorists involved in the Kandahar hijack? The show offers a perceptive analysis of how the final Christmas Eve of the new millennium became a tragic black mark in Indian intelligence and security history.
The passengers’ and the terrorists’ disguised boarding marks the beginning of the story. The identity of those involved has been revealed through clear clues, but the narrative takes an incredible turn the moment the aircraft takes off. The very natural conflict between the government and the populace is introduced in the series as soon as the hijack is revealed. Though it starts off well, this online series experiences turbulence as soon as the group of officers show up.
What worked for the series IC 814?
The novel IC 814 makes the struggle to come up with a plan, to bargain with the terrorists, and to assign guilt feel real.
There comes a time when the government’s highest-ranking officials don’t seem to agree on what should or could be done. There are those who support the efforts, those who highlight the shortcomings, and the conflict creates a compelling story about another conflict at the bureaucratic level.
In a separate plot line, journalists Dia Mirza and Amrita Puri battle the morality of what information should be revealed and what shouldn’t. This may seem like an unneeded diversion at first, but over the course of the six episodes, it holds the story so tightly that it serves to remind us of the obvious blunders the media made during the Mumbai Attack! In actuality, learning what to hold and report becomes a necessary chapter!
IC 814, a Netflix series: What Doesn’t Work
IC 814: The psychological component is the one area in which the Kandahar Hijack fails. The trauma experienced by individuals stranded on the aeroplane is not felt for seven days. The crew, which is portrayed by Patralekhaa and Additi Gupta, and the pilot, Captain Sharan Dev, who is portrayed by Vijay Verma, all have unimpressive roles in this epic story. They also suffocate while sitting in the aircraft. Most likely as a result of the emotional and pacing aspects of the story losing their equilibrium. Alternatively, it was never meant to evoke strong feelings.
Although it is a high point that highlights the trauma experienced by both the crew and the passengers, there is a moment in which one of the hostesses attempts to clean a clogged toilet, but the scene is overlooked.
The story also plays on the terrorists’ emotional side, which ultimately spirals out of control. Is it a terrorist, trying to help the pilot unclog the toilet, or giving the air hostess extra attention? The moral quandaries are not entirely resolved in certain circumstances!
Star cast
Not to be overlooked is the incredibly gifted ensemble cast, which includes, among others, Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Varma, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, Arvind Swami, Anupam Tripathi, Dia Mirza, Patralekhaa, Amrita Puri, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, and Kumud Mishra. Even though not every member of the cast gets a lot of screen time, they all give it their all in every second they do.
Every performance improves both the overall execution and the story. The performances of Anupam Tripathi, Arvind Swamy, Patralekhaa, Manoj Pahwa, and Vijay Varma are noteworthy.
Playing the captain at gunpoint, Varma does a creditable job of representing the man in charge of the flight’s safety. He clearly highlights the conflict and the tension. Manoj Pahwa contributes elements of dark humour to the bargaining scenario, which appears to be a subtle touch that would not have been possible without him.
Review
In summary, ‘IC 814’ is a great read for anyone who likes political fiction and hostage drama. Furthermore, this may be the show you’ve been waiting for if you’re desiring something well-made that you shouldn’t binge watch during your lunch breaks instead of giving it a meaningful watch.
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