‘Baramulla’ Movie Review: Manav Kaul Steers a Gripping Supernatural Thriller
Director Aditya Suhas Jambhale skillfully sets the tone, atmosphere, and suspense of this intense narrative. Yet, when the haze clears, the underlying divisions of an “us versus them” mindset come into focus.
Story and Setting
Unlike typical films about the Kashmir conflict that revolve around the military, Baramulla shifts perspective to the Jammu & Kashmir Police. Jambhale, known for Article 370, explores the story of DSP Ridwaan Sayyid, a man trapped between his moral compass and complex loyalties.
- His colleagues perceive him as harsh and uncompromising.
- Separatists denounce him as an infidel.
- His own daughter condemns him as a traitor.
The Mystery Unfolds
Ridwaan is drawn into a haunting case involving missing children in the Baramulla district. What appears straightforward at first deepens into a disturbing mystery. His investigation uncovers links between these disappearances and a surge in local unrest.
Simultaneously, an uncanny presence haunts his official residence, a space tainted by grim secrets buried in its walls. These eerie manifestations mirror the inner turmoil that consumes Ridwaan as he confronts guilt and memory from earlier operations.
Between the Real and the Supernatural
“Baramulla blurs the lines between the rational and the mystical, creating a purpose-driven tension that keeps the audience entranced.”
Jambhale resists presenting a sanitized picture of Kashmir. Instead, he delves into the emotional and political fractures beneath its scenic snow. Through this lens, Baramulla emerges as both an engrossing mystery and a commentary on wounded trust and survival.
Author’s Summary
Through its haunting imagery and layered storytelling, Baramulla fuses human conflict and supernatural intrigue into a story where guilt, faith, and fear intertwine across a fractured landscape.