Anubhav Sinha’s latest series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ has been marred in controversies since the day it dropped on Netflix. The Vijay Varma, Pankaj Kapur and Patralekhaa starrer has been facing flak for various reasons such as the names of the terrorists in the show, sensitive portrayals of religion, historical inaccuracies, or perceived disrespect to communities.
Here are few other web shows that stoked controversies recently:
Sacred Games 2
The second season of the popular Netflix show ‘Sacred Games’ directed by Anurag Kashyap featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Saif Ali Khan and Pankaj Tripathi in key roles created a stir for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community. The scene where ‘Sartaj Singh’ aka Saif Ali Khan, discards his ‘kada’ became contentious. Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa condemned the show and argued that the scene was offensive and as it disrespected Sikh beliefs. The particular scene became the bone of contention and sparked a debate for taking artistic freedom and hurting religious sentiments.
Tandav
A series released on Amazon Prime and directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, ‘Tandav’ encountered significant backlash and multiple FIRs. The controversy centered around a particular scene where actor Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, portraying Lord Shiva, delivered a monologue on ‘azaadi’ that many found offensive. The makers of the show were accused for allegedly disrespecting Hindu deities and fostering religious discord. The creators later apologized and removed the controversial scenes, but the show remained a focal point for debates about the depiction of religious figures and the limits of freedom of expression in digital media.
Paatal Lok
Produced by Anushka Sharma and released on Amazon Prime, ‘Paatal Lok’ faced significant criticism for its portrayal of certain communities. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, led by Manjinder Singh Sirsa, objected to a scene depicting a Sikh man committing rape, claiming that it disrespected the Sikh faith and community. The show also drew ire from the Nepali-speaking community for alleged use of a ‘sexist’ slur. Sikkim MP Indra Hang Subba lodged a formal complaint with the Information and Broadcasting Minister, calling for a ban on the series and arguing that it unfairly targets specific communities and perpetuates negative stereotypes.
Heeramandi
The much anticipated OTT debut of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, ‘Heeramandi’ faced flak for its portrayal of Lahore’s culture from the 1920s to the 1940s. While the Netflix show was praised for its larger than life visual treat for the audience and a compelling narrative, few critics from Pakistan, including former politician Yousuf Salahuddin, slammed the makers of the show claiming that it misrepresented Lahore’s historical and cultural context, offering a skewed view of history.
Aashram
Prakash Jha’s ‘Aashram’, featuring Bobby Deol, released on MX Player faced severe backlash from the Bajrang Dal activists who alleged that the series portrayed Hindu ashrams in bad light, focusing on the exploitation of women by corrupt gurus. In October 2022, Bajrang Dal members vandalized the show’s sets in Bhopal and threw ink at Jha, accusing him of defaming Hindu religious institutions. The series, which delves into the darker aspects of spiritual ashrams and power dynamics, was criticized for allegedly targeting Hindu culture and faith unfairly.
