Baramulla review: A gripping thriller that falters under its own weight

Baramulla Review: A Gripping Thriller That Falters

The Manav Kaul-starrer Baramulla unfolds as it struggles to blend its allegorical themes with an uneven plot. The film introduces a chilling mystery where children vanish without a trace in a serene Kashmir town.

Plot Overview

DSP Ridwaan Sayyed (Manav Kaul) is sent to Baramulla to investigate the disappearances. He arrives with his wife Gulnaar and children Noorie (Arista Mehta) and Ayaan (Rohaan Singh), stepping into a troubling situation unlike anything he has faced before.

Atmospheric Beginning

The film starts strongly with a haunting scene where a street magician's trick results in a child disappearing inside a box. As the search for the missing boy intensifies, Ridwaan and his team face unsettling questions:

Who is behind the kidnappings?
What secrets lie behind the locked room on the second floor of Ridwaan’s old wooden house?

The story is woven with secrets, lies, and betrayal, reminiscent of smoke rising from the creaky floorboards, creating an eerie and mysterious atmosphere.

Critical Perspective

While the beginning captivates with its mood and suspense, the film gradually reveals a heavy-handed message, almost accusatory in tone. It touches on the painful history of the Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced to flee their homes due to terrorist attacks—a deep wound that still impacts the valley and its inhabitants.

"Yes, the way the Kashmiri Pandits were targetted by terrorists, and made to flee their homes, is a wound that the valley and its residents have lived with all these decades."

Baramulla, produced by Aditya Dhar and directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, is a mix of strong atmosphere and uneven storytelling, leaving a mixed impression.

Author's summary:
Baramulla grips from the start with chilling mystery but falters as its heavy message overshadows its storytelling, blending atmosphere with uneven plot twists.

The Indian Express — 2025-11-07