‘Baramulla’: Manav Kaul Leads Chilling Supernatural Thriller Steeped in Kashmir’s Unhealed Wounds
Horror, History, and Haunting: The Gripping New Netflix Original
The picturesque yet turbulent valleys of Kashmir form the backdrop for the chilling new supernatural thriller, ‘Baramulla’, which has recently premiered on Netflix. Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, known for the acclaimed film Article 370, the movie stars the versatile Manav Kaul in a powerful, measured performance as a police officer thrust into an investigation that merges local crime with ancient, unquiet spirits.
The film, which blends the genres of police procedural, psychological thriller, and horror, focuses on the themes of grief, historical trauma, and the enduring human cost of conflict in the region.
The Plot: DSP Ridwaan Sayyed Confronts the Unseen
Set in the snow-covered town of Baramulla, the narrative kicks off with the mysterious disappearance of children, an event often preceded by the ominous appearance of a wilting white tulip—a poignant symbol of the valley’s long-standing pain.
DSP Ridwaan’s Personal and Professional Nightmare
Manav Kaul anchors the film as DSP Ridwaan Sayyed, a newly transferred officer with a traumatic past of his own, which subtly haunts his present. He is tasked with solving the vanishing children case, but his professional pursuit is quickly complicated by inexplicable, eerie occurrences in his new colonial-era house, which he shares with his wife, Gulnaar (Bhasha Sumbli), and their children.
What begins as a seemingly straightforward missing persons case quickly evolves into a tense narrative where the rational and the otherworldly blur. The supernatural forces, strongly felt by his family at home, begin to intertwine with the investigation, leading Ridwaan to confront buried community secrets and the historical wounds of the region.
More Than a Ghost Story: Political and Historical Subtext
‘Baramulla’ distinguishes itself by using the supernatural as a potent allegory for the real-world horrors and unaddressed trauma of Kashmir. The story delves into the painful legacy of the region’s past, particularly alluding to the tragic displacement of the Kashmiri Pandit community. The film suggests that the ‘ghosts’ haunting the present are, in fact, the echoes of historical injustice and memory that refuse to be erased. This layered approach elevates the film beyond a standard genre piece, giving it a powerful, social-horror dimension.
Cast, Director, and Production Insights
The movie, which was released on November 7, 2025, is a production by B62 Studios and Jio Studios, with Aditya Dhar (Uri: The Surgical Strike fame) serving as a producer.
| Role | Key Cast Member |
| DSP Ridwaan Sayyed | Manav Kaul |
| Gulnaar Sayyed | Bhasha Sumbli |
| Noorie Sayyed | Arista Mehta |
| Director | Aditya Suhas Jambhale |
Director Aditya Suhas Jambhale, following his critically noted work on Article 370, masterfully uses the stunning, desolate landscape of Kashmir not just as a setting, but as an active, chilling character in the film. The cinematography captures a haunting stillness that enhances the pervasive sense of dread, making the film a visually striking and emotionally resonant experience.
Critical Reception and Audience Buzz
Upon its Netflix release, ‘Baramulla’ has garnered attention for its atmospheric tension and Kaul’s compelling portrayal of a conflicted man of duty. Critics have highlighted the film’s success in building dread through memory and grief rather than relying on jump scares. While some reviews note an uneven blend of the supernatural and socio-political themes in the first half, the film is largely praised for its second-half convergence, which delivers a logically satisfying and deeply melancholic climax. Manav Kaul’s performance, in particular, has been singled out as one of his most intricate and powerful to date, holding the film’s emotional core together.
The film is currently streaming on Netflix and is available in multiple languages.