'IC 814' Review: Perfectly-woven hostage drama with stellar cast, superb execution (2024)

New Delhi,UPDATED: Aug 29, 2024 19:59 IST

170 people board a plane to Delhi from Kathmandu. It's a regular flight, like the one we take. There are children, pregnant women, senior citizens - basically the aam janta we come across every day, fighting their own life problems, pre-occupied about their family or career or something.

However, what they did not know was that the fated journey of less than two hours would take them over a week, and one would not even be able to see the light of the day.

It turned out to be the longest hijack in the history of India. Bringing this real story to the screen as a series requires superb research and storytelling prowess to keep audiences hooked for nearly four hours. Thankfully, director Anubhav Sinha and his team, including an extremely talented ensemble cast, weave a perfectly intriguing hostage drama that will make you binge on it till the end in one go.

The biggest challenge, in my opinion, was thrown at director Anubhav Sinha, who also created the show along with Trishant Srivastava. He also leads the writing team along with Srivastava, journalist Adrian Levy, and Soumya Tiwari. The research team, of course, did have a monumental job of getting to the nitty-gritties of what might have happened around the hijack, as would the screenwriting team to build it into an intense 4-hour long script. However, to bring it all together and execute it into the final product must have been a daunting task, which Sinha did masterfully. He is a seasoned director, and that comes in handy in the series.

Watch the trailer here:

Sinha also adds real footage of the events in between the narrative, an element that not only lends authenticity but also helps the audience connect deeper with the story. Interspersed in between is the government and decision-making bodies brainstorming about what is to be done that will best suit the situation. The series does not pretend to not involve politics, which is impossible in a real-life hijack story, but it also does not take a stand like Sinha does in his films. After all, this is a true event and he presents it as it is, but also manages to pose questions with subtlety (well, almost).

The last episode is what gives dimension to the series. It just leaves the answer to the audience as to what is right or wrong, and if there is ever a decision that could have been perfect. The exchange between Manoj Pahwa and Arvind Swami's characters is what forms the crux. Did the decision-makers and government officials win, fight, or even give their best? It's all for the audience to decide.

Coupled with Anubhav Sinha's direction are crisp editing, sharp dialogues and music that sets the pace and keeps the tension palpable. And then, there is the commendable camerawork that captures action in a limited space - inside the aircraft.

Not to forget, there is an extremely talented ensemble cast - from Vijay Varma to Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, Arvind Swami, Anupam Tripathi, Dia Mirza, Patralekhaa, Amrita Puri, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Kumud Mishra, just to name a few. While not everyone has extensive screen time, this perfectly synchronised cast delivers their best in every moment they have.

Each performance elevates the narrative and the overall execution. Vijay Varma, Manoj Pahwa, Arvind Swamy, Patralekhaa and Anupam Tripathi's performances stand out.

Varma plays the captain and does justice to his role as the man who is responsible for the flight's safety while being at gunpoint. He brings out the tension and the dilemma with finesse.

Manoj Pahwa lends elements of dark humour in the negotiation scene, something that seems to be a touch that could not have been as nuanced had it not been for him. Seeing Anupam Tripathi do justice to Agent Ram, who had done his best to prevent the hijack, was also satisfying as a viewer who enjoyed 'Squid Games' just as much.

The series also subtly comments on the grey areas of journalism. For journalists, distinguishing between what is right and wrong, and deciding what information to withhold or disclose, becomes extremely challenging in the quest to get to the root of a story and bring out the whole truth to the readers. When national security is at stake, determining when and how much of the truth should be revealed becomes crucial.

Overall, if you have a knack for hostage drama and political stories, you would love 'IC 814'. Also, if you have been craving a well-made show, that you don't want to binge during your lunch breaks but give a serious viewing, this one might just be what you are looking for.

4 out of 5 stars to IC814