The Kandahar Hijack’ unveils trailer

Netflix India has unveiled the first trailer for its upcoming series “IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack.”

The titular hijacking took place in December 1999 when an Indian Airlines flight was commandeered by militants en route from Kathmandu to New Delhi. The flight made multiple landings, including at Amritsar, India, Lahore, Pakistan, Dubai and Kandahar, Afghanistan. The crisis lasted seven days.

The drama, based on the book “Flight Into Fear” by Captain Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury, examines the crisis from multiple angles and offers a multi-faceted look at the incident, involving tense negotiations in the Delhi War Room, high-level diplomacy efforts are highlighted. in Taliban-controlled Kandahar, and the terrifying ordeal faced by passengers and crew on board the hijacked plane.

The series features an ensemble cast including Vijay Varma (“Dahaad”), Patralekhaa (“Aar Ya Paar”), veterans Pankaj Kapur (“Bheed”) and Naseeruddin Shah (“Minimum”), Arvind Swami (“Custody”) , Dia Mirza (“Bheed”), Amrita Puri (“Neeyat”), Anupam Tripathi (“Squid Game”), Kumud Mishra (“Tiger 3”), Manoj Pahwa (“Bawaal”), Kanwaljeet Singh (“Madam”) , Dibyendu Bhattacharya (“Poacher”), Sushant Singh (“The Freelancer”), Aditya Srivastava (“Bhakshak”), Rajeev Thakur and Yashpal Sharma (“Chandu Champion”).

The series is created by Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Srivastava (“Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga”), under Sinha’s direction. The story is by Adrian Levy and Trishant Srivastava. It is produced by Matchbox Shots and Benaras Mediaworks, with Sarita Patil and Sanjay Routray as producers.

Sinha’s films that address social and political issues include ‘Bheed’ (2023), ‘Anek’ (2022), ‘Article 15’ (2019) and ‘Mulk’ (2018). He returns to television series after a 27-year hiatus, following his work on DD Metro’s ‘Sea Hawks’.

“Netflix and Matchbox Shots made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, to tell the story of ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’,” Sinha said. “Trishant, the writer, and I dived into it because we thought most of the information is available online. Documentaries and vlogs have been made, articles written, so we wanted to sink our teeth deeper for a juicier bite.”

“We met officials involved in carrying out the rescue mission from Delhi, and passengers and crew told us the story on the plane. Adrian Levy, an eminent journalist, author and filmmaker from London, came on board and a whole new international canvas unfolded before us,” Sinha added. “What unfolded over those seven days proved to be a compelling story that cuts through the hair-raising and exciting tactical and diplomatic maneuvers that needed to be told. Viewers need to know this story that has never been told inside and out before, with a cast I don’t know if I can put together again.”

Sanjay Routray of Matchbox Shots, the production company that was also behind the recent Netflix India successes “Monica, O My Darling” and “Scoop”, added: “With Anubhav Sinha’s masterful direction and Netflix’s global reach, we confident that the series will continue to develop, viewers around the world will appreciate the courage and resilience of the Indians who showed tremendous bravery during the Kandahar hijacking.”

Monika Shergill, VP, content, Netflix India, said: “The series doesn’t just narrate the events; it immerses you in the emotional whirlwind of a nation gripped by fear, hope and despair. The powerful storytelling, combined with stunning visual effects and breathtaking performances from an incredible cast, make this a must-watch.”

The series will stream from August 29.

Watch the trailer here: