Baramulla Review: Tulips, Trauma, And Terror Tie This Netflix Film Together

Baramulla Review: Tulips, Trauma, and Terror Tie This Netflix Film Together

Melancholy, chilling, and haunted — Baramulla reveals Kashmir through a lens rarely seen before. The film captures the intersection of beauty, pain, and fear in a region marked by conflict. Trauma, rather than ghosts, emerges as the true source of horror in this narrative reminiscent of The Haunting of Hill House.

Co-written by Aditya Dhar and Aditya Suhas Jambhale, and directed by Jambhale himself, the film explores the deep scars of militancy in the Valley. It attempts to free the Kashmiri Pandit community from their haunting past while navigating the overlapping layers of reality, psychology, and the supernatural. At 1 hour and 52 minutes, the story occasionally feels dense, especially as the climax approaches with a rush of revelations.

The Storyline

The film centers on DSP Ridwan Shafi Sayyed, played by Manav Kaul, who is transferred from Reasi to Baramulla to investigate the mysterious disappearance of six schoolboys amidst the snow-clad landscapes. Ridwan suspects that militants are indoctrinating children with anti-India narratives and smuggling them across the border to training camps. The rise in stone-pelting incidents adds to the city’s unrest and his growing anxiety.

The Family and Inner Conflict

Ridwan, grappling with PTSD, comes to Baramulla with his wife Gulnaar, their teenage daughter Noorie, and young son Ayaan. The new environment is distant and unwelcoming, reflecting the inner dysfunction of the family itself. Each member struggles to adapt as emotional isolation deepens, turning the scenic Valley into a metaphor for their shared unrest.

"Trauma is the real horror that people should be scared of and not ghosts."

Through its blend of political tension and personal turmoil, Baramulla blurs the line between realism and mysticism, immersing viewers in a world where every silence feels haunted and every memory echoes with loss.

Author’s Summary

The film Baramulla explores trauma, conflict, and family dysfunction in a haunted Kashmir, merging psychological depth with eerie beauty and political tension.

NDTV — 2025-11-07