Baramulla Review: Tulips, Trauma, And Terror Tie This Netflix Film Together
Baramulla shows Kashmir in a starkly different light, marked by sadness, coldness, and haunting memories. The film, reminiscent of "The Haunting of Hill House," highlights trauma as the true horror, not ghosts.
Co-written by Aditya Dhar and Aditya Suhas Jambhale, and directed by Jambhale, the movie explores militancy in the Kashmir Valley while portraying the Kashmiri Pandit community’s struggle with their haunted past. Running 1 hour and 52 minutes, Baramulla balances between reality, psychology, and supernatural elements, though it sometimes feels rushed and complex, especially near the climax.
Main Plot
DSP Ridwan Shafi Sayyed (Manav Kaul) is transferred from Reasi to Baramulla to investigate the mysterious disappearance of six schoolboys in the snow-covered valley. He suspects militants are indoctrinating children with anti-India propaganda and abducting them for terrorist training across the border. Alongside this, stone-pelting incidents have surged in the city.
Ridwan is not alone; his wife Gulnaar, teenage daughter Noorie, and playful son Ayaan have moved with him. Their family life is as troubled and dysfunctional as many others.
"Trauma is the real horror that people should be scared of and not ghosts."
The film effectively combines themes of psychological trauma and social unrest, portraying the complexity of life in Baramulla.
Author's Summary
Baramulla merges Kashmir’s turbulent present with personal and collective trauma, creating a gripping and emotionally intense cinematic experience.
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