IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack
VISUAL EFFECTS & ANIMATION
Project Overview
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is a Netflix series based on true events, chronicling the longest hijacking in the history of Indian aviation. Spanning multiple countries and unfolding across intense diplomatic and human drama, the series balances realism with cinematic scale. Visual effects played a key role in supporting authenticity, scale, and narrative tension across critical moments of the series.
Previsualization was central to planning and executing complex aircraft sequences, shaping camera movement, spatial continuity, and pacing across high stakes scenes.
A fully digital Airbus A300 was developed to support a wide range of exterior and interior shots. Built for structural credibility and visual consistency, the aircraft enabled controlled integration across varied environments and lighting conditions, supporting both grounded moments and high action aerial sequences.
Environments & Locations
Airports in Kathmandu, Dubai, Lahore, and Amritsar were recreated to reflect their appearance in the 1990s. Architectural character, lighting conditions, and atmospheric elements were reconstructed to maintain authenticity while addressing logistical and access constraints.
In addition to airport environments, surrounding landscapes and skies were developed to ensure geographic continuity and seamless integration across the series.
Cinematic Integration
Atmospheric sequences, including dense fog at Amritsar and night landings in Dubai, were crafted to balance realism with dramatic intent. Shot on anamorphic lenses, the series carries a distinctive cinematic language. The visual effects were carefully integrated to maintain consistency across the series’ visual language.
Working on the Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack required balancing historical responsibility with cinematic execution, making it a significant and carefully crafted visual effects collaboration.
