IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Review: Vijay Varma Shines in This Series
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ is a gripping series that will send chills down your spine. Based on the longest hijacking in Indian aviation history, Anubhav Sinha directs a powerhouse cast featuring Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, and Pankaj Kapur, bringing authenticity to this harrowing tale.
Where to Watch:
Netflix
Language: Hindi
Director: Anubhav Sinha
Cast: Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Arvind Swami, Dia Mirza, Amrita Puri
Why to watch:
The series leaves viewers with many questions: Why Kathmandu? Who orchestrated the hijack, and why Kandahar? What happened to Rupin Katyal? Was this a diplomatic failure? To uncover the answers, this compelling Netflix series is a must-watch.
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is crafted precisely, taking only slight creative liberties without distorting the facts. It stands alongside other Netflix successes like ‘Kaala Paani’ and ‘Kohrra’ as a prime example of stellar storytelling. The show delivers a tightly woven hostage drama that is both sensible and respectful in its execution.
The stellar ensemble cast features veterans like Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, and Kumud Mishra. However, the series truly belongs to Vijay Varma, who shines as Captain Devi Sharan, the brave pilot who saved 187 of the 188 passengers. Despite the limited screen time for some of these seasoned actors, each makes their moments count, with every character playing a significant role.
One of the biggest challenges for the filmmakers was presenting the story from multiple viewpoints—the hijackers, the captain, the cabin crew, the passengers, government officials, and the media. Vijay Varma’s portrayal of Captain Devi Sharan demonstrates that heroism doesn’t always require physical strength. His calm under pressure becomes the key to saving lives.
The series asks a crucial question: Do we know everything that transpired during those seven days? Produced by Matchbox Shots and Benaras Mediaworks, Anubhav Sinha’s streaming debut draws from real-life events to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack
The hijackers’ singular aim was to free Maulana Masood Azhar, a terrorist imprisoned in India for over four years. The show emphasizes that Masood was confident of his release, which was the driving force behind the hijacking of IC 814.
Sinha meticulously narrates the events that led to the fateful day of December 24, 1999. The series begins with snapshots of the day when Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 took off from Kathmandu, unaware it was about to be embroiled in a week-long ordeal of terror.
Adapted from Captain Devi Sharan’s book Flight into Fear, the show covers every angle, from the political maneuvering in Delhi’s War Room to the hostages’ terror in the air. On December 24, 1999, 40 minutes after taking off from Kathmandu, five armed men seized the aircraft. The flight was forced to land at various locations across South Asia and the Middle East before the ordeal concluded in Kandahar, Afghanistan, after seven tense days.
The series also highlights how Afghanistan played a role in rescuing the hostages while exploring the complex dynamics of Stockholm Syndrome, where captives begin to empathize with their captors. Small details, like the passengers playing Antakshari with the hijackers, reflect the gradual shift in their emotions.
IC 814: An incident that still haunts people
Kudos to the director for the attention to detail. Every passenger, from the elderly gentleman to the special-needs child, brings depth to the story. The show also critiques how media can rush to conclusions and present incomplete or inaccurate news. Dia Mirza and Amrita Puri shine as journalists handling the crisis with sensitivity.
The show delves into the diplomatic failure of the time, as some soldiers and their families still feel the decision to release militants was a bitter compromise. History may judge the situation harshly, but the options were limited. Looking back 25 years later, when airport security has become much stricter, we are left questioning how such a tragedy was allowed to happen.
MillionMins Rating: 3.5 out of 5. 🍿🍿🍿🍿
Watch the Trailer Here!