User reviews

*IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack* offers a decent take on a major historical event, but it falls short in truly captivating the audience. The 6-episode format does keep you engaged to some extent, especially with its tight script and good performances. Vijay Varma and Arvind Swamy were highlights for me, but many characters felt underdeveloped, leaving their stories hanging midway.

The series mixes real-life footage well, but the emotional depth and tension that such a story demands are missing. While it's not terrible, it's also not groundbreaking. Worth watching if you have time, but not a must-see. Solid 7/10.

For once, a Hindi series is highlighting the correct facts and telling a real story without glorifying it with fabricated details. This show presents how the incompetence of political governments can cause significant damage and how decisions are often driven by political motives rather than the public's best interests.

The series is well-made, with strong visual effects and a solid script. The negative ratings and reviews likely stem from a new mindset that anything not in favor of India cannot be considered true. However, facts and truth remain unchangeable.

The series will keep you engaged until the final episode. It isn't unnecessarily prolonged, avoids irrelevant content, and stays on point from beginning to end.

Do watch it, it's worth your time.

No comments on how true this movie is on the book on which it is based and how faithfully it depicts actual events because I have not read the book and I don't have first hand knowledge of actual events. All I can say is that it is a thrilling account of a hijack drama spread over six episodes. An ensemble of top actors have brought to life this tense story and director Anubhav Sinha has done a splendid job in so far as his story telling is concerned. Though the streaming platform wants you to continue watching the next episode immediately in continuation , one tends to do so even while having an option not to. This is probably an indication of the high quality of the series. The plot. On 24th December 1999 an Indian Airlines plane on the way from Kathmandu to Delhi is hijacked by a group of terrorists who force the pilot at gunpoint to fly to Kandahar, Afghanistan even though the fuel is near zero. On the ground panic sets in and the Indian government takes an immediate stock of the situation and despatches a team of top level bureaucrats to conduct negotiations with the hijackers.

Director Anubhav Sinha has made a gripping serial. Some may have a difference of opinion regarding the presentation and unfolding of the narrative but that is a different issue All actors including Vijay Varma, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Naseeruddin Shah , Patralekha, Pankaj Kapur and others have given good performances. The technical aspects are good.

First of all, before watching this it was portrayed to be a misleading screen play. But it is noteworthy to mention that there is nothing fiction in this whole series..it was pure fact based and very true of its own..so seems a little boring at some point..But the advantage is truth was shown in a very upfront way and most importantly, the agents of different Indian agencies were upto the mark when it comes to acting.. At some point, audience may expect some heroics from Indian agencies or, pilot..but again what happened at that particular time was shown only.. All the actors did a commendable job..but the hijackers roles could have been more frightening.

Overall need to watch to know what happened during that from Political as well as social angle..

IC 814 delivers an exceptional experience with its brilliant cinematography and masterful filmmaking. The performances are top-notch; this isn't just a star-studded affair-it's a showcase of true acting talent. Rajeev Thakur, in particular, surprises with a powerful performance that rivals, if not surpasses, the work of his comedy peer, Kapil Sharma.

Whether or not the series leans into propaganda, that's up for debate. What is undeniable is the sheer entertainment value and craftsmanship on display. The decision to present the harrowing eight-day hijacking as a series rather than a movie proves wise, allowing for the depth and detail this story demands.

Criticism might stem from perceived biases, but from a filmmaking perspective, this is international-level quality. It's an experience well worth watching, regardless of where one stands on the narrative's leanings.

This is the re-telling of the story of a highjacking that took place in the winter of 1999. The whole country was following updates on this incident where six hijackers boarded a plane from Kathmandu, Nepal, and demanded to land the plane in Pakistan. This series follows the events thereafter.

The story is not well narrated. Though it tries to stay true to the actual events, it still gets distressed by the names of the highjackers used. The sets seem very real and blend well with the storyline. However, the attention to detail is missing in some parts, which is also highlighted in the Goofs section on IMDB. I would recommend watching this series to learn about the turbulent aviation history of the 90s.

This was one of the few bizarre statements made by director Anubhav Sinha. A sub-par plot which veered away from its original content based on the book "Flight into Fear". Weak plot especially the character played by famous PETA activist Dia Mirza, the info of how the incidents took place were not shown.

The Indian government had to release terrorists including Masood Azhar & 2 others to secure the release of the 185 hijacked crew & passengers. Regarding this national tragedy Anubhav Sinha made a statement that "people were exchanging numbers with the hijackers and playing 'Antakshari'......"

This series at the first glance might seem like it's too short considering there are only 6 episodes thatare barely 45 minutes long, but the episodes are so well-written that they keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the episode.

The writing and the direction is really crisp and the performances are stellar! What I didn't like was the use of sepia tone - I felt that it was overdone. It's just my personal view.

Vijay Varma as the captain was the standout of the show. Patralekha Paul and Additi Gupta shine in their roles too. It was great to see Arvind Swamy after a long time - I liked his performance too.

Overall, a great show!

I was a kid back when this happened, I remember seeing news clips (on NDTV...?) of the plane and the elders discussing this away at lengths. This show, all these years later, provides context to what happened back then.

Some liberties have been taken, the director said, (I am not sure what parts) but for the most part, this seems to be a faithful retelling of the true events, reviews seem to say.

I don't think the doc. Takes any sides per say it is more of a 'piece of documentation' of history for people (and the generation born much after) who didn't know anything about the hijacking of the plane beyond what was shown on tv; the turmoil that folks had to go through for 7 days...oof. Would recommend.

What could have been!! A great chance to make a high quality movie based on facts - A tragedy that shook the nation, instead it has so many loopholes, stoked acting and weak dialogues, despite having some top notch actors.

Most of the time you feel the characters have just memorised their lines. The worst are the hijackers!!

However, what it does show (maybe inadvertently) is the total lack of a proper crisis management policy, which I'm hoping is not the case any more.

It was nice to see Dia, Nasseruddin, Pankaj, and a few others but sadly their roles were not not well etched. Vikram was acceptable.

It was funny to see passengers faces during the hijack, to be seen simply sitting expressionless as if watching a movie of their TV screens.

A quickly forgotten mess.

The series in question is undoubtedly one of the finest examples of international quality content emerging from India. It stands as a testament to the country's ability to produce world-class entertainment that resonates with audiences globally. The craftsmanship and dedication that went into creating this series are evident in every frame, making it a source of immense pride for all Indians.

Anubhav Sinha, the director of this remarkable series, deserves special recognition for his outstanding work. His vision and execution have elevated the series to a level that few can match. As a director, Sinha has never shied away from tackling difficult and controversial subjects. In this series, he has posed some of the most challenging and autocratic questions that have long been ignored or avoided by society. These are questions that delve deep into the core of our political and social systems, challenging the status quo and urging viewers to think critically about the world around them.

What sets this series apart is its fearless approach to addressing these hard-hitting questions. Sinha's direction ensures that the series does not shy away from uncomfortable truths. Instead, it confronts them head-on, providing a platform for meaningful dialogue and introspection. This is a rare quality in today's entertainment landscape, where many creators opt for safer, more palatable content. Sinha's courage in taking this bold approach is commendable and sets a new benchmark for storytelling in Indian cinema.

One of the most notable aspects of the series is its portrayal of the so-called "bhagwa brigade." Contrary to what some critics might suggest, the series does not depict this group in a negative light. Instead, it offers a nuanced and balanced view, presenting their perspectives and motivations with fairness and empathy. This balanced portrayal is crucial in fostering understanding and dialogue between different sections of society. It is a testament to Sinha's commitment to telling a story that is both honest and respectful.

The controversy that has surrounded this series is, in my opinion, entirely baseless. Much of the criticism seems to stem from a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the series' intent. Rather than seeking to malign any particular group or ideology, the series aims to shed light on the complexities and challenges faced by our government officials and politicians. It is a character study that delves into the pressures and dilemmas they encounter in their roles. By doing so, it humanizes these figures, allowing viewers to see them as individuals grappling with difficult decisions and moral quandaries.

This character study is one of the series' greatest strengths. It provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings of our political system, offering insights that are both enlightening and thought-provoking. The series does not resort to simplistic or one-dimensional portrayals. Instead, it presents a rich tapestry of characters, each with their own motivations, strengths, and flaws. This complexity adds depth to the narrative, making it a compelling and engaging watch.

In conclusion, this series is a shining example of what Indian cinema can achieve when it dares to push boundaries and tackle challenging subjects. Anubhav Sinha's direction is nothing short of brilliant, and his willingness to ask the hard questions sets this series apart from the rest. The balanced portrayal of the bhagwa brigade and the insightful character study of government officials and politicians under pressure make this series a must-watch. The controversy surrounding it is unfounded, and those who take the time to engage with the series will find it to be a thought-provoking and rewarding experience. Bravo to Anubhav Sinha and the entire team for creating a series that is both impactful and unforgettable.

This limited series was a good watch. The story is interesting, acting great, and dialogues decent, although the last 2 episodes feel rather slow. It would have also been interesting to see more about the inner turmoil of the passengers, but the series seems lacking there. Also, given that a lot of discussions mention the Home Minister and Prime Minister, not having cast characters for those roles felt a bit strange. Lastly, I wasn't a fan of the interspersing of real like footage (like press interviews) with the rest of the story. It felt rather jarring to see Pankaj Kapoor play the MEA and then seeing Jaswant Singh in another frame. It would have been nice to see the real footage at the end of the episode.

I would like toa Dr that it is frustrating to see that many reviews do not seem to understand objectivity. If they don't agree with the story or a character or even artistic expression (especially when it comes as odds with their own perceived versions of history) they give 1 star reviews, but will give 10 stars to mindnumbingly dull nonsensical movies because it stars their favourite hero.

IC 814: Absolutely Disappointing Documenting history in a film always needs more responsible approach than history itself. The saga of Kandahar Hijack was one of the most challenging issues from the security, diplomatic and strategic point of view for India in a world emerging afresh. This was the phase when India gripped with political uncertainty because of coalition compulsions of successive governments. The Kandahar episode took place amidst all these and this would not be wrong to say that India faced that challenge in the best possible way the country had at that time. This is true that during that time India had neither logistics nor trained manpower to deal with such situations. So also, unlike today the then India was a bit isolated from the mainstream global affairs for various reasons. However, this is also true that India hardly got the support of international community in a matter related to humanitarian crisis.

The new Web Series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack should be seen as an effort to make today's generation heed about one of most challenging diplomatic and strategic issues that India faced just on the eve of the new millennium. This is true that a film cannot strictly follow the entire account of history. The process of recreating history and presenting it in a film needs to include some imaginary incidents and characters. However, this does not ratify in any way that anybody can be allowed to alter the basic aspects. The new Web Series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has just the same mistake. Hence, there are some factual errors in the context of narrating the story. What are those errors?

1. The way the Web Series IC 814 has narrated the character of the pilot from the perspective of Indian people and Indian media is utterly wrong.

2. The Web Series show country and Media did not appreciate the courage of the captain during the crisis. He smartly landed the craft at Amritsar airport. He tactically delayed the process of refueling so that Indian arm force got time to restrict the craft entering into a foreign airspace. Similarly, it was the captain who readily sent the message to Indian authority informing them about the hijack.

3. There was no public opinion against the role played by the captain during the crisis. Similarly, the Indian media never tried to project the courageous pilot as a villain.

4. Rather, criticism and anguish of the family members and Indian media continued through the entire period regarding security lapse and intelligence failures. . Apart from these factors which virtually defame the role played by the pilot during the crisis, sequences of some incidents have been altered.

1. The Hijackers dropped the demand of money and the dead body of Sajjad Afghani as the dialogue began. India did not persuade Taliban to do these. Taliban considered these as anti-Islam and compelled hijackers dropping these two demands.

2. The Web Series has trivialized India's strategy to conduct military action to rescue the passengers. From day one since Indian negotiators had reached Kandahar, India's stand point had been to find out ways to escalate to rescue the force. But Indian negotiators did this tactically and there is virtually no report of Taliban displaying aggression or compelling Indian negotiators to admit their view point on the gunpoint.

3. The role of Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan has not been properly depicted in this Web Series. The fact is: as Afghanistan was cut off from the rest of the world, it was ISI that kept on informing the hijackers what was happening in India.

The National Security Adviser NSA Chief Ajit Doval has shared his experience in the media describing everything. He gave detailed reply to the queries related to Kandahar Hijack. But the Web Series have completely ignored these.

Another weak part of the Web Series is its poor characterization. Except the pilot nobody seemed impressive.

Those who played the role of Indian negotiators proved that they are wrong choices for such characters.

The Web Series fails to prove what role Naseeruddin Shah actually played. Naseeruddin is no doubt a great actor. But in this role he never looked impressive.

On the whole, the Web Series is Absolutely Disappointing. I must not recommend to waste time watching this.

This is the best series I have ever watched in my life, it is suspenseful,emotional,mind blowing, and very interesting if you start watching this series you can't control till the last episode. The main thing of this series I have liked is it reflects the work,dedication,smartness, and hard work of an pilot to not only save oneself's life but to take each an every passenger safely. The main actor/character in IC814 who is vijay varma has done the very best role and it is speechless it can't be expressed in words or sentences. The whole cast has done a very great job and has given there best to feel and get into the actual character. I loved it a lot and I think every citizen of india should watch it atleast one time.

IC 814 is a highly emotional true story with some of the best character actors of our time in roles that unfortunately dont give them enough room to flex their acting muscles and as a result lacks real movie magic. It is an ambitious series which struggles to emotionally connect and ends up being a time pass series with a lot of unrealized potential and underutilized talent.

Pankaj Kapur and Naseeruddin Shah bring gravitas to their characters but just dont get enough screen time, dialogs and character arcs to show their magic. Vijay Varma is good but has the potential to do so much more. Kumud Mishra and Arvind Swamy also do a good job in their respective roles but are capable of so much more. The only actor who really shines in the series is Manoj Pahwa who gets some really funny lines and has a very likable and well written character.

There are several characters like the one played by Dia Mirza, Amrita Puri, Dibyendu Bhattacharya and many others which feel like good ideas that did not get fully formed with character arcs that were never fully fleshed out. This leaves the viewer with a feeling of too many incomplete mini-stories. The director just loses interest and drops these storylines as the series progresses.....the newly wed who got widowed is never seen again in the 2nd half of the series, the elderly father of the air hostess, the asthmatic passenger, the specially abled child left alone with his father gets lost with all the other faceless passengers and other characters of the series.

The series does a decent job of bringing the hijack to the screen with some good integration of real life images and videos with the re-enactments by the actors while capturing a lot of the interesting behind the scenes (in)action but just lacks the emotional punch that would and should have elevated the series. The end result is a gripping and decent series with good performances that could and should have been much better. Timepass fare. 6.5/10.

I had high hopes for "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack," especially given the intriguing subject matter. Unfortunately, the series fails to live up to its potential and left me thoroughly disappointed.

What should have been a gripping and intense recounting of a critical moment in history ends up feeling like little more than a propaganda piece. The series seems more interested in pushing a particular narrative, which detracts from the story's emotional depth.

The pacing is another major issue. The series struggles to maintain its grip ,dragging in parts where it should be taut and suspenseful. What could have been a tightly wound thriller instead becomes boring and tedious.

In short, "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack" is a major letdown. What could have been an engaging and thought-provoking series is instead a dull and disappointing watch.

IC 814 - THE KANDHAR HIJACK

Let me be honest, series is really really addictive only for last 2 episodes, The first 4 episodes of this series really feels like torture but with some privileges.

This show on netflix shows those 7 haunting days of indian history that still haunts the INDIA. In which 200 men being hostaged in a plane by five hijackers for some of their demands

but i have some questions, why is there a need to change the names of the hijackers, due to creative liberty they change their names, but thats not a big deal, the big deal is they gave him indian names like bhola and shankar, like seriously ???

See you can read the full story from Wikipedia or some other sources, but that will not give you that thrill and tension that this series gave.

That killings, that tension, that scared faces of hostages, corruption and internal tensions in government, if you want to feel all these, this show is a must watch,

but but but, a disclaimer, have patience for four episodes, literally 80% of show is just very confusing, so many characters, multiple storylines, but as i said viewers also given some facilities like, real footages of the incident literally they show real footage of each and every major activity with a voice over which gives you internal details about background of incident and reactions in india and other countries in contemporary time.

Another major plus point is VFX, my god the visuals are so so beautiful and realistic, hats off to vfx director, Background score is also very tense that hooks you up to your seats.

Every actor slayed its role and this series is full of brightest actors of indian cinema.

Now see, series is really good but you have to be calm till end of episode 3, from episode 4 your interest will start to upgrade.

So 3 from my sides out of five.

1st for bringing this shocking incident in form of cinema without being biased 2nd for making the story easy to understand for viewers with thrill and tension.

3rd for actors. Bgm, and the vfx for sure,

2 stars deducted for a quite manipulation in original story and for keeping some questions unanswered.

A good watch to feel some thrill suspense, tension, political instability with addictive bgm and eye gasping visuals..

They say too many cooks spoil the soup, but #AnubhavSinha has made sure that too many cooks have not only made the soup tastier but also worth tasting multiple times.

A 6 episode series based on the book "Flight into Fear" stands out for its extensive research and development that clearly went into crafting the story. The screenplay is solid, managing to hold the viewer's interest. The narration is engaging and well-paced, maintaining a fine balance between tension and storytelling.

Each and every actor plays their part to the perfection. Veterans like #NaseeruddinShah #PankajKapur are just a treat to watch together on screen. #ArvindSwamy #AdityaShrivastava are awesome. #ManojPahwa #KumudMishra brings life to their characters especially during the negotiations. #VijayVerma is fabulous in his part as usual. #diamirza #Amritapuri are decent. However, the portrayal of the hijackers could have been more impactful. #RajeevThakur is good.

The music is well-composed. The direction is commendable, effectively steering the complex narrative and managing to keep the audience engaged from start to finish.

Overall, this series is definitely worth watching. It provides an engrossing retelling of a dramatic real-life event, supported by good direction, solid performances, and high production values.

It's a good try but could have been better. It felt like too much was moving too fast. Too many good actors but weak plot. They have tried to keep the story as real as possible with news clipping from the year 1999 and the lapse and unseriousness of the situation. No proper leadership and political mess that caused the hijack to happen. However it could have been better if it slowed the information and shown it properly. Patralekha acting is bad. Her expressions when a passenger is killed is blank. Whereas supporting crew acting and Vijay Varma acting has saved it. However overall it's average.

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, filmed in Jordan, Nepal and Mumbai, is based primarily on Captain Devi Sharan's book Flight to Fear. The script uses additional inputs from another book, Anil Sharma's IA's Terror Trail, which recounts 16 cases of hijacking of Indian aircraft from the early 1970s to the late 1990s.

Besides what the solid research and script bring to bear upon the series, a wonderful ensemble cast elevates IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack above the ordinary. Including those playing the passengers in the aircraft, the show has well over 100 actors, many of whom are little-known. However, each one of them contributes to heightening the impact of the drama.

In the face of grave danger and provocation - IC 814, on the way from Kathmandu to Delhi on Christmas eve of 1999, is hijacked by five masked terrorists and forced to fly with a fast-depleting fuel tank to Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai and finally Kandahar, Afghanistan - the captain demonstrates exemplary courage and presence of mind.

Vijay Varma 'pilots' the show as a man whose planned yearend vacation with his wife and daughter is scuttled by the hijacking. The actor's subdued intensity conveys tenacity rather than showy bravado, a characterization strategy ingrained in the writing itself. Patralekhaa is splendid as flight attendant Indrani whose inner turmoil is accentuated by the fact that she has had to leave her ailing father at home. She isn't the only woman in the series but she is nearly as much in the thick of the action as most of the show's other key characters.

Dia Mirza plays a newspaper editor who believes in the virtues of caution. Amrita Puri is cast as an irrepressible newshound. Working in tandem, the two have frequent run-ins with each other on professional matters. The collision of their differing approaches lends the show an extra dimension.

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack would not be half the series it is without its formidable slew of veteran actors - notably Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Arvind Swamy, Kumud Mishra and Manoj Pahwa. They immeasurably enhance the show's depth and weight.

The camera swirls around them. They hover over each other. They go head-to-head with contrarian points of view that underscore inter-departmental divergences. Individually and together, these past masters of their craft are a treat to watch.

Kanwaljit Singh, Yashpal Sharma, Sushant Singh and Dibyendu Bhattacharya are somewhat underutilised, which is perhaps unavoidable in a miniseries with a wide array of characters vying for attention. But there is little else in IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack that one can find fault with.

Authentic and to the point, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is as good a web series as any we have seen this year.