IC 814 row: Has Netflix added disclaimer ONLY for its Indian audience? User on X calls out OTT platform

A day after Netflix issued a statement and agreed to include an opening disclaimer in the much-talked-about series IC -814: The Kandahar Hijack, users in the United States have pointed out that the disclaimer does not reflect on the platform. 

On Tuesday, Monika Shergil, the vice president of content at Netflix issued a statement on the controversy. In her statement, Shergill said, "For the benefit of audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight 814, the opening disclaimer has been updated to include the real and code names of the hijackers. The code names in the series reflect those used during the actual event. India has a rich culture of story-telling and we are committed to showcasing these stories and their authentic representation."

However, some Indians in the US have pointed out that the disclaimer is missing on the OTT platform when viewed outside India. 

"The ‘disclaimer’ that @netflix has somehow added in the IC 814 series is not visible here in US. Seems like Netflix has only added the disclaimer disclosing the real identity of the Pakistani hijackers in India. The same show doesn’t have it when shown outside India. #IC814," said an X user. 

"The @NetflixIndia IC814 KANDAHAR HIJACKING DISCLAIMER IS A JOKE !!! A friend sent me these 2 videos from USA. Used VPN and saw that the so called Disclaimer is there for India Only 🇮🇳. Misinformation & Propaganda continues to spread in the rest of the world 🌎 @AshwiniVaishnaw". 

Another user pointed out that the disclaimer was also not visible to subscribers of Netflix in the Middle East. "Cousin in the Middle East tells me that the disclaimer (stays couple of seconds) put out by @netflix  is not visible out there before #IC184. This is a terrible deal GoI has striked. The fake narrative builders have won.  @NetflixIndia". 

The statement by Netflix came after Shergill met with the Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju in New Delhi on Tuesday. Shergill was summoned to the ministry to address concerns. 

A certain section on social media had objected as the series showed two terrorists named 'Shankar' and 'Bhola'- Hindu names for Muslim terrorists. While the makers stated that the names were code names used by actual terrorists during the 1999 hijack on which the series is based, certain people stated the names hurt their religious sentiments. 

Directed by Anubhav Sinha, IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack, is based on real events and adapts from the book 'Flight Into Fear', written by Captain Devi Sharan (captain of the hijacked flight) and Srinjoy Chowdhury.

The web series features a bevy of actors, including Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Patralekha, Arvind Swamy, Aditi Gupta, Dia Mirza, Manoj Pahwa, and others.