'Will conduct content review and ...': What Netflix told government in meeting over Kandahar hijack series

NEW DELHI: In a meeting with the ministry of information and broadcasting on Tuesday, Netflix India has committed to thoroughly review its content to ensure future projects align with national sentiments, ANI reported quoting government sources.
"Netflix has provided an assurance to conduct a content review and guarantee that all future content on their platform will be sensitive to and in accordance with the nation's sentiments," according to government Sources.
The meeting was prompted by the release of the series 'IC-814 - The Kandahar Hijack,' which sparked controversy on social media.
The series has drawn criticism for its portrayal of the hijackers involved in the 1999 Indian Airlines flight hijacking, referring to them by nicknames such as 'Chief,' 'Doctor,' 'Burger,' 'Bhola,' and 'Shankar.' Some viewers have argued that this characterization presents the perpetrators in a 'humane' light, which has led to public outcry.
The ministry had sought an explanation from Netflix India regarding the potentially contentious elements of the series, given the sensitive nature of the real-life events depicted.
According to ANI, the Netflix team presented research documents and footage collected for reference, arguing that the series aligns with publicly available resources, including information from books and government statements.
The 1999 hijacking was carried out by members of the Pakistan-based terror group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, making any perceived misrepresentation a matter of concern.