PLOT: An Indian Airlines flight is hijacked en route Kathmandu-Delhi on Dec 24, 1999, diverting to Kandahar under Taliban control.
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is a hijack thriller drama series directed by Anubhav Sinha and written by Adrian Levy and Trishant Srivastava. Produced by Sarita Patil and Sanjay Routray under Matchbox Shots and Benaras Mediaworks. It is adapted from the book ‘Flight Into Fear’ by Captain Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury. The series premiered globally on Netflix on 29 August 2024.
Star Cast:
Vijay Varma as Captain Sharan Dev
Naseeruddin Shah as Vinay Kaul
Pankaj Kapur as Vijaybhan Singh
Arvind Swamy as DRS
Kanwaljit Singh as J.P. Kohli
Manoj Pahwa as Mukul Mohan
Kumud Mishra as Ranjan Mishra
Aditya Srivastava as VK Agarwal
Dibyendu Bhattacharya as Abhijeet Kumar
Dia Mirza as Shalini Chandra
Amrita Puri as Nandini Martin
Patralekha Paul and as Indrani
Additi Gupta Chopra as Chhaya
Pooja Gor as Captain’s wife Simar
Anupam Tripathi as Ram Chandra Yadav
Rajiv Thakur as Chief
Harminder Singh as Doctor
Diljohn as Burger
Kunal Chopra as Shankar
Mu’Azzam Bhat as Wakil Ahmed Muttwakil
Yashpal Sharma as Sanjay Mehta
Sushant Singh as Ravi Shankar
WEB SERIES REVIEW: A Riveting Tale of the Longest Hijack in Indian History. Witness the engaging story of the longest hijack in Indian history in this six-episode limited series, where terror unfolds over 7 days of unrelenting suspense and drama. The makers deliver an authentic and intense narrative that pulls no punches, ensuring viewers are on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Under the expert direction of Anubhav Sinha, the series navigates multiple tracks and characters without ever losing its focus. His direction is commendable for keeping the narrative tight, ensuring that the story never becomes confusing despite its complexity. The screenplay is gripping & the editing is taut, with each episode crafted to build tension and keep the audience hooked. The cinematography is strikingly effective, capturing the claustrophobic tension within the hijacked plane and the unfolding drama outside.
The series showcases a stellar ensemble cast. Vijay Varma was outstanding in portraying his character with utmost conviction. Pankaj Kapur and Naseeruddin Shah are, as expected, brilliant. Manoj Pahwa shines in the negotiation scenes with the terrorists. Arvind Swami, Kumud Mishra, and Aditya Srivastava all deliver strong performances. Dia Mirza and Amrita Puri also perform admirably. Patralekha Paul and Additi Gupta Chopra give sincere performances. Squid Game actor Anupam Tripathi impresses in his role. Kanwaljeet Singh and Dibyendu Bhattacharya were fine in their limited role. Rajiv Thakur and the actor portraying the hijacker excel in their respective parts.
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is a powerful, engaging series that effectively captures the tension and terror of India’s longest hijack. The series not only offers a riveting retelling of a real-life event but also delves deep into the psychological and emotional toll on all involved.
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Series Rating:
Direction 3.5/5
Acting 4/5
Dialogues 3/5
Story 3.5/5
Screenplay 3.5/5
Overall Hit ya Flop Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars (Very Good)
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