**Baramulla**
*Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale (Article 370)*
In Baramulla, a veteran police captain newly assigned to the Kashmir Valley region of northern India quickly discovers that his very first case has many layers of complexity. Local children are disappearing, possibly kidnapped for ransom. While that’s awful by itself, the situation is far from simple. In a region where unrest between Islamic militants and the Indian government continues to simmer, there is something else afoot—something that usually presents itself in Baramulla with a blast of foreboding musical eeriness.
Starring Manav Kaul, Bhasha Sumbli, Arista Mehta, and Ashwini Koul, *Baramulla* is a gripping blend of crime investigation, local history, and supernatural mystery.
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### BARAMULLA: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
**The Gist:**
The story opens with a single flower blooming against a backdrop of snow and mountains. A little boy is drawn to it—and shortly after, he has disappeared.
For newly arrived DSP Ridwaan Shafi Sayyed (Manav Kaul), the first order of business is dismissing the suspect already detained by his new crew of constables: an itinerant magician who was the last person seen with the missing boy. However, strange clues abound—like a perfectly snipped lock of hair left behind—suggesting something bigger is happening.
Ridwaan is a sharp, no-nonsense investigator but carries lingering PTSD from a violent incident at his previous post. His workaholic habits have alienated him from his wife, Gulnaar (Bhasha Sumbli), and their two children: middle schooler Noorie (Arista Mehta) and baby Ayaan (Rohaan Singh). This alienation worsens as local pressure mounts to solve the disappearances. Ridwaan spends almost no time in the old, creaky house where his family has been staying.
Because of this, he struggles to believe Gulnaar and the kids when they report strange occurrences—phantom footsteps, an unseen dog barking. When Noorie is drawn to another mysterious flower growing from the attic’s floorboards, and Ayaan seems to befriend a shadow shaped like a boy his age, viewers can’t help but wish Ridwaan would spend more time at home.
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### A Region Steeped in History and Conflict
Set in 2016, just 20 years after the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the valley under duress, *Baramulla* explores the region’s fraught cultural and political landscape. When Ridwaan’s investigation leads him to Khalid (Ashwini Koul), a man linked to Islamic militancy and influential with the town’s youth, the case takes an unsettling turn.
Khalid was seen with some of the disappeared children—and perhaps even Noorie. As Ridwaan and his team chase the leads, progress feels increasingly intertwined with the valley’s difficult history of division and discord.
Yet, alongside the political unrest, there remains the recurring blast of eerie music on the soundtrack, the mysterious flowers that beckon to the children, and the family home with its old bones that might just be haunted. Ridwaan must unravel the connection between Baramulla’s cultural strife and the supernatural force lurking in town—fast—because his own family could vanish next.
Amidst the tension, a mysterious voice ominously warns:
**“Target his weak spot. Freedom will be ours.”**
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### What Movies Will *Baramulla* Remind You Of?
*Baramulla* adds to Netflix’s growing slate of Indian originals. Manav Kaul, who stars here as DSP Ridwaan, previously impressed audiences in the horror miniseries *Ghoul*. The police investigation aspect of *Baramulla* shares similarities with the twisty crime thriller *Sacred Games*.
Meanwhile, the creepier, supernatural side—centered on the missing children and mounting local tension—invites comparisons to films like *Weapons*.
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### Performance Worth Watching
Manav Kaul delivers a compelling performance as DSP Ridwaan Shafi Sayyed. He balances the “guy you trust” persona during the investigation with the vulnerability of a man whose serious nature is challenged by inexplicable forces.
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### Memorable Dialogue
“The kidnappings are definitely not about the money.”
This line captures Ridwaan’s rational approach, which proves essential when calming hysterical parents. However, it also fuels conflict as increasingly unexplainable events pile up.
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### Sex and Skin
None.
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### Our Take
*Baramulla* possesses a Nordic noir quality at times. The dedicated but damaged detective, riddled with personal dramas that soon spill into his professional life, is a familiar trope. Yet here, it feels fresh due to the rich cultural backdrop and supernatural undertones.
There’s plenty on Ridwaan’s plate, and the film does a great job of trapping him in ever-tightening spots that his training and experience did not prepare him for.
The movie uses a typical horror technique—revealing tantalizing but incomplete glimpses of the unease—that can both intrigue and occasionally frustrate. Yet the film’s soundtrack, composed by Indian pop duo Shor Police, enhances both the eerie supernatural vibe and the weight of the region’s troubled history.
The soundtrack acts almost as a character itself, with closed captions frequently marking cues like “[diabolic music slows]” and “[foreboding horn blares],” further immersing viewers as the film builds to its satisfying climax.
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### Our Call: Stream It
*Baramulla* transports viewers to a region of India rich in history and conflict but layered with a mysterious force that cannot be banished by belief or violence. The film skillfully balances political tension with supernatural unease, resulting in a compelling and atmospheric viewing experience. We definitely recommend streaming it.
https://decider.com/2025/11/08/baramulla-movie-netflix-review-stream-it-or-skip-it/
