Director: Aditya Suhas Jambhale
Producers: Aditya Dhar & team
Cast :Manav Kaul, Bhasha Sumbli, Arista Mehta, Rohaan Singh, Aswini Koul, Shahid Latief
Platform: Netflix
Rating: 3
Baramulla, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, is not the usual Kashmir-set thriller filled only with guns, soldiers, and slogans. Instead, the film takes us into a quieter, more unsettling world—one where the ghosts of the past live as strongly as the living.
The story follows DSP Ridwaan Sayyed, played with remarkable depth by Manav Kaul, who arrives in Baramulla to solve shocking cases of missing children. What looks like a routine police investigation slowly turns into something far more complex and disturbing. Ridwaan not only faces questions on the job but also finds his own family shaken by unexplained supernatural events inside the house they move into.
What works very well in Baramulla is the way the film mixes mystery with human emotion. The Kashmir we see here is not the postcard version. The film shows the tension, the fear, and the silent wounds buried under the snow. Instead of jump scares, the horror comes from the feeling that something old and painful is finally demanding attention.
At the heart of the story is the memory of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus, and the film uses supernatural elements to talk about trauma that generations continue to carry. This gives Baramulla a strong emotional core one that lingers long after the film ends.
Manav Kaul delivers one of his most controlled and powerful performances. Ridwaan is tough on the outside but deeply conflicted inside, and he expresses that pain even in moments of silence. Bhasha Sumbli, as his wife, brings honesty and empathy to her role, grounding the film whenever the tension rises.
The film’s atmosphere is excellent—the cold homes, the creaking floors, the strange locked room, and the soft hints of danger create consistent suspense. The cinematography captures a Kashmir that is both beautiful and unsettling.
Where the film struggles slightly is in its pacing. The first half is slow and takes time to pull you in. And at times, the political messaging becomes very direct. But even with these flaws, Baramulla leaves a strong emotional impact because its heart is in the right place. It is less about scaring you and more about reminding you of a tragedy that changed thousands of lives.
In the end, Baramulla is a film about pain that refuses to be forgotten. It is haunting, sincere, and made with real sensitivity.