Who is Monika Shergill, Netflix India's content chief, who has been summoned by govt amid IC 814 row?

Monika Shergill, the content head of Netflix India, found herself at the centre of a controversy when she appeared before the Information and Broadcasting Ministry officials on Tuesday. The government had summoned Shergill in response to the ongoing row surrounding Netflix's new series, "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack," which has been criticised for its portrayal of the hijackers involved in the 1999 Indian Airlines flight hijacking.

Monika Shergill: From Meerut to Netflix

Hailing from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Monica Shergill has a distinguished career in the media and entertainment industry. Growing up with black and white televisions and a fascination with Doordarshan's programming, she developed a keen interest in storytelling from an early age.?

She enjoyed watching "This Week's World", which she said was a window to the outside world. This passion for storytelling stayed with her and eventually led her to a career in journalism.

After completing her studies in Meerut, Shergill moved to Miranda Institute in New Delhi for her graduate studies, after which she pursued a course in journalism. She began her career as a journalist and documentary maker in the mid-1990s. Her duties included covering dangerous missions, such as reporting on illegal mining in Dhanbad.

Before joining Netflix, Shergill held significant positions at other major media companies. She served as the Head of Content at Viacom18 Digital Ventures for five years and worked as a creative consultant for Star India for nearly eight years. She also held the role of creative director at Sony Entertainment Television.

In an old interview with Forbes, Shergill credited her parents for supporting her adventurous career path, which eventually led her to become one of the most influential figures in Indian entertainment.

Impact and achievements at Netflix India

Under Monika Shergill's leadership, Netflix India has seen remarkable growth and success. She joined the company at a time when Netflix India was primarily known for two series, "Sacred Games" and "Delhi Crime."

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However, Shergill focused on building a strong team and collaborating with the right storytellers to better understand the preferences of the Indian audience. This strategy paid off, as Netflix India's revenue grew by 25 per cent in 2022, and several Indian productions became major hits.

Shergill has been instrumental in expanding Netflix's reach in India, particularly in tier-two cities. The company has been running targeted promotions and acquiring films that appeal to these markets. She has also been clear about Netflix's long-term strategy, avoiding heavily discounted bundling and low-value plans in favor of sustainable growth. "These tactics to gain users are not sustainable in the long term," she told Variety. "The company wants sustained growth by bettering Netflix's value."

?Under her guidance, Netflix India has delivered numerous successful shows and films, including "Heermandi: The Diamond Bazaar," "The Great Indian Kapil Show," "The Railway Men," "Amar Singh Chamkila," "Kohrra," "Jaane Jaan," "Curry and Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case," and the Academy Award-winning "The Elephant Whisperers," among others.

Shergill's influence in the industry has been recognized globally. She has appeared on various prestigious lists, including The Hollywood Reporter's "35 Most Powerful Women in International Television," Variety's "500 Most Influential Business Leaders," and Fortune India's "Most Powerful Women," among others.

Govt seeks clarification on 'IC 814' series

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a summons to Shergill, demanding an explanation for certain contentious elements in the series. According to top government sources, the issue centres around the depiction of the hijackers, particularly their codenames.

The series dramatizes the events of the 1999 hijacking of Flight IC 814 by Pakistan-based terror group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. However, controversy erupted on social media when viewers noticed that two of the hijackers were referred to only by their Hindu codenames, "Bhola" and "Shankar," in the series.?

This led to accusations that the show was downplaying the fact that the hijackers were Muslim terrorists.

When asked about the government's stance, a source close to the matter stated, "Nobody has the right to play with the sentiments of the people of this nation. India's culture and civilization should always be respected. You should think before portraying something in the wrong manner. The government is taking it very seriously."

The controversy surrounding 'IC 814' series

The Netflix series "IC 814" is based on the real-life hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 in 1999. The show portrays the ordeal of passengers and crew members as the flight was diverted to multiple locations before ultimately landing in Taliban-controlled Kandahar, Afghanistan.

The controversy stems from the codenames used for the hijackers in the series—Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola, and Shankar. The use of the names Bhola and Shankar has sparked outrage, with critics accusing the show's director, Anubhav Sinha, of misrepresenting the hijackers' identities.?

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack - Reviews and Discussions
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They argue that the series should have emphasized that the hijackers were five Muslim terrorists, two of whom used Hindu aliases.

The series is adapted from the book "Flight into Fear: The Captain's Story," written by journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury and Devi Sharan, the captain of the hijacked flight. The cast includes notable actors such as Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, and many others in key roles.

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