The 1999 Kandahar hijack of Indian Airlines Flight IC814 remains one of the darkest chapters in India's aviation history. Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the Netflix web series IC814 The Kandahar Hijack attempts to recreate this traumatic event, shining a light on the political, emotional, and human aspects of the ordeal. While the series gives viewers a glimpse of the bureaucratic chaos and security failures during the crisis, it ultimately falls short of fully capturing the challenges faced by the passengers and crew. This review blog explores the strengths and weaknesses of the six-episode series.
Plot Summary of IC 814 Netflix Web Series
The web series follows the hijacking of Flight IC814, which was taken over by five terrorists shortly after departing from Kathmandu. The hijackers diverted the plane to Kandahar, Afghanistan, leading to a week-long standoff between India and the militants. The series covers the tense negotiations between the Indian government and the terrorists, while also exploring the passengers' plight and the emotional toll on their families back home.
Despite the real-life drama, the series doesn't fully immerse the audience in the gravity of the situation. It highlights the Indian bureaucratic response and security loopholes, but it misses the mark on showcasing the courage and resilience of Captain Dev Sharan (Vijay Varma) and his team, as well as the emotional trauma faced by the passengers.
Direction and Cinematography:
Anubhav Sinha, known for his critically acclaimed works like Mulk and Thappad, delivers a rather underwhelming narrative this time. The pacing of the series, especially in the first three episodes, is slow and lacks the urgency that such a high-stakes event demands. The Kathmandu scenes are shrouded in darkness, which adds to the sluggish feel of the story, making the audience question why more attention wasn’t paid to creating visual dynamism.
The series does succeed in showcasing the bureaucratic pressure, the political back-and-forth, and the challenge of managing the crisis. However, it fails to convincingly portray the terror and trauma faced by those aboard the flight, focusing instead on the softer side of the hijackers, which feels misplaced given the gravity of the situation.
Performance Review:
One of the biggest drawbacks of IC814 is its failure to fully capitalize on the immense talent in its cast. Actors like Vijay Varma, who plays the reel version of the real Captain Devi Sharan, bring some depth to their roles, but the script doesn’t allow them to fully shine. The real-life Captain Devi Sharan's struggle to keep the hijackers calm and protect his passengers was an intense and heroic feat, but this isn’t depicted with the same intensity in the series.
Veteran actors like Pankaj Kapur, Kanwaljit Singh, Arvind Swamy, Aditya Srivastava, Sushant Singh, and Yashpal Sharma all play key roles, but their characters are underdeveloped. These actors, known for their brilliant performances, could have contributed more had they been given better direction and more fleshed-out roles.
One notable disappointment is Diya Mirza’s portrayal of Shalini, a newspaper chief editor. Her role feels out of place, and her scenes discussing headlines with her colleagues lack substance. Considering the gravity of the situation, her character’s contribution feels like a missed opportunity to explore the media’s role during this crisis.
Highlights:
Insight into Bureaucratic Challenges: The web series does a commendable job of highlighting the political and bureaucratic challenges during the hijack crisis. The delays in decision-making and the security loopholes that allowed the hijackers to succeed are well-depicted.
Star-Studded Cast: Despite the underutilization of the talent, the cast list is impressive. Familiar faces like Pankaj Kapur and Aditya Srivastava give the series an added layer of gravitas.
Realistic Diplomatic Struggles: The series offers a realistic portrayal of the diplomatic negotiations and the immense pressure on government officials.
Authentic Footage of the Incident: The series incorporates real, official footage captured by authorities and media at the time, providing a genuine glimpse into this event as it unfolded.
Areas for Improvement:
Captain Devi Sharan’s Story: The series fails to do justice to Captain Devi Sharan’s heroic efforts in managing the hijackers and ensuring the safety of his passengers. More focus on his perspective would have added much-needed depth.
Passengers' Experiences: The trauma and resilience of the passengers were glossed over. While there was some focus on their ordeal, the series doesn't truly capture the psychological and emotional challenges they faced.
Sympathy for Hijackers: The series takes an oddly sympathetic view of the hijackers at certain points, which feels out of place and dilutes the gravity of their actions.
Pacing and Cinematic Choices: The initial episodes are slow-paced, and the dark Kathmandu scenes make it hard to follow the plot at times. A more gripping, fast-paced narrative would have made the series more engaging.
IC 814 Netflix Web Series Review
IC814 The Kandahar Hijack, directed by Anubhav Sinha, offers an average retelling of the 1999 Kandahar hijack. It gives viewers a surface-level understanding of the crisis, focusing heavily on political and bureaucratic challenges while missing the emotional depth and intensity of the real-life event. With a cast full of seasoned actors, the series could have been much more impactful had it been directed with more attention to character development and narrative tension.
For those interested in revisiting the IC814 hijack, this series provides a decent overview, but for viewers seeking a more emotionally engaging and in-depth portrayal, it may leave much to be desired. Simply put, Anubhav Sinha missed his flight this time.
FAQs about IC 814 Netflix Web Series:
1. Is IC814 based on a true story?
Yes, IC814 is based on the real-life hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in December 1999, which was diverted to Kandahar, Afghanistan.
2. Where can I watch the IC814 web series?
The series is available for streaming on Netflix.
3. How many episodes are there in IC814?
The series has six episodes.
4. What was lacking in the IC814 web series?
While the series captures the bureaucratic and political challenges during the hijacking, it falls short in depicting the trauma faced by the passengers and crew. The series also takes an oddly sympathetic stance toward the hijackers, which feels out of place.
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