Story: In the snow-covered town of Baramulla, a police officer investigates a string of child disappearances while his own family begins to face eerie, inexplicable events at home.Review: ‘Baramulla’ blends horror and thriller elements against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of Kashmir’s snow-covered landscapes. The film opens on a promising note, setting up a tense atmosphere that hints at a taut, emotionally layered mystery. The valley’s bleak winter and near-constant gloom create the perfect setting for dread to creep in. Yet, when the supernatural finally enters the frame, it raises more questions than it answers. The film holds back too much, leaving viewers to connect dots that never fully appear. It comes together in the end, closing on a sombre note underscored by a haunting track sung by Shilpa Rao.Set in Baramulla, the story begins with the kidnapping of Shoaib Ansari, the son of a local ex-MLA, Ansari (Mir Sarwar). Suspicion falls on a wandering magician, Zafar Mansoor, who vanishes soon after a public magic show. When the local police fail to make headway, DSP Ridwaan Sayyed (Manav Kaul) takes charge of the case. But things soon spiral as more children disappear from the local school, leaving the town in panic. At the same time, Ridwaan’s wife, Gulnaar (Bhasha Sumbli), and their children, Noorie (Arista Mehta) and Ayaan, start witnessing eerie happenings at home—from dog smells to invisible playmates. When they learn their new house once belonged to a Hindu family, the story takes a dark, supernatural turn.The film unfolds through two narrative threads that converge in the final act. The first follows Ridwaan’s investigation into the missing children, grounded and procedural in tone. The second traces Gulnaar and the children’s chilling experiences, steeped in paranormal tension. While both stories have their merits, the disconnect between them early on makes the viewing experience uneven. The revelations in the climax tie the threads neatly, but by then, the film has already tested the audience’s patience. A few narrative breadcrumbs or hints along the way could have made the mystery far more engaging.Performance-wise, ‘Baramulla’ stands tall. Manav Kaul brings a quiet intensity to DSP Ridwaan, playing him with sincerity and restraint, though the role could have allowed for more emotional depth. Bhasha Sumbli fits perfectly as Gulnaar, balancing fear and composure with ease. Young Arista Mehta as Noorie leaves an impression, portraying trauma with remarkable authenticity. The real star, however, is the film’s setting—the chilling silence of Kashmir’s snowfields amplifies every fear, every secret. Director Aditya Suhas Jambhale crafts a world that feels lived-in and visually stunning, even as the script sometimes falters.By the time the threads meet, ‘Baramulla’ finds its footing and ends on a logically satisfying, if melancholic, note. The film succeeds in mood and atmosphere, delivering a world that feels both real and unsettling. Yet, it falls short of the emotional and narrative depth it aspires to. You leave admiring its ambition but wishing it had cut deeper into the horror it promised. ‘Baramulla’ impresses with its craft but stumbles with its chills—a film that almost freezes you but never quite gets under your skin.
