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

Baramulla Review: A Gripping Thriller that Falters Under Its Own Weight

Baramulla, starring Manav Kaul, begins as an intense mystery set in the serene yet shadowed landscapes of Kashmir. The film, produced by Aditya Dhar and directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, attempts to merge an allegorical narrative with a crime investigation but struggles to maintain consistency.

Plot Overview

The story centers on DSP Ridwaan Sayyed (Manav Kaul), sent to Baramulla to investigate a wave of mysterious child disappearances. Accompanied by his wife Gulnaar and their two children, Noorie (Arista Mehta) and Ayaan (Rohaan Singh), Ridwaan is drawn into an unsettling mystery within his own assigned residence.

Key Moments

A street magician performs a trick where a boy climbs into a box and vanishes, triggering panic and setting the tone for the investigation.
As the search intensifies, questions arise: Who is behind the kidnappings? What secrets lurk behind the locked upstairs room in Ridwaan’s old wooden house?
As the mystery unfolds, elements of deceit, betrayal, and suppressed trauma emerge from the cracks of the story.

Thematic Depth

The film’s atmospheric opening builds suspense effectively, portraying the valley’s haunting beauty against a backdrop of hidden pain and unresolved history.

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

Critical Reflection

Despite its evocative setting and compelling premise, Baramulla stumbles as its symbolism overtakes coherence, turning subtle tension into overt melodrama. The effort to blend allegory with political commentary weakens the emotional depth that the story initially promised.

Verdict

Baramulla starts as a chilling and atmospheric thriller but falters by revealing too much too soon, losing the delicate balance between mystery and message.

Author’s Summary: A visually captivating yet uneven thriller, Baramulla grips early on but unravels under the weight of its heavy-handed metaphors and political undertones.

The Indian Express — 2025-11-07