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

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

Baramulla is a sad, cold, and haunting film that reveals Kashmir in a strikingly different perspective. The three Ts—tulips, trauma, and terror—encapsulate the essence of this Netflix movie. The real horror explored here is trauma, not ghosts, reminiscent of The Haunting of Hill House but set against the backdrop of Kashmir.

Plot and Themes

Co-written by Aditya Dhar and Aditya Suhas Jambhale and directed by Jambhale, the film examines militancy issues in the Valley and the unresolved pain faced by the Kashmiri Pandit community. With a runtime of 1 hour 52 minutes, Baramulla navigates the blurred lines between reality, psychology, and the supernatural. However, this ambitious approach sometimes makes the narrative complex, especially as the climax rushes through a flood of information.

Main Characters and Storyline

DSP Ridwan Shafi Sayyed (played by Manav Kaul) is transferred from Reasi to Baramulla to investigate the mysterious disappearance of six schoolboys amid the snowy Valley. Ridwan suspects militants are indoctrinating children with anti-India propaganda and abducting them for terrorist training across the border. Meanwhile, stone-pelting incidents are rising in the city.

Struggling with PTSD himself, Ridwan moves to Baramulla with his family—his wife Gulnaar, teenage daughter Noorie, and playful son Ayaan. The city's cold atmosphere mirrors the dysfunction within their family.

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

The film captures the haunting impact of conflict and trauma on both society and individuals.

Summary

Baramulla thoughtfully explores Kashmir's harsh realities by weaving trauma, terror, and family struggles, though its storytelling occasionally feels rushed and complex.

Would you like the summary to be more neutral or emotionally evocative?

NDTV — 2025-11-07