Can supernatural horror reconcile the fractured history of the Kashmir Valley?
In short: The 2025 film Baramulla blends supernatural thriller tropes with the stark socio-political reality of Kashmir. When a police officer investigates missing children, he discovers a haunted villa protecting youth from radicalization. This chilling narrative explores whether ghosts of the past can offer sanctuary in a landscape defined by grief and exile.
Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale and released on Netflix on 7 November 2025, Baramulla follows DSP Ridwaan Sayyed as he investigates the disappearance of local children in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir. The investigation leads him to an old villa occupied by his family and a mute attendant named Iqbal. As the family experiences unsettling phenomena, they uncover that the house once belonged to a Kashmiri Pandit family, the Saprus, who were massacred by militants decades earlier.
The film posits that the spirits of the murdered Sapru family—Dr. Kamlanand, his wife Mansi, and their daughter Eela—remain to protect local children from being recruited by an extremist network funded by the ISI. The plot reveals that the children were being brainwashed by militants before being abducted by these vengeful spirits. The supernatural elements serve as an allegory for the trauma of the Kashmiri Pandit community, with the film culminating in a confrontation where the spirits help defeat the militants, including the hidden leader, Zainab.
Critical reception has been mixed-to-positive, with reviewers noting the film's ambitious attempt to fuse horror with grounded social drama. While some critics praised the atmospheric cinematography and the haunting performance of Manav Kaul, others felt the narrative struggled under the weight of its own themes. The film’s exploration of loss, memory, and the pain of exile has been described as a chilling reflection on the Kashmir Valley, ultimately serving as a dedication to the Kashmiri Pandit community.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Baramulla (film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-baramulla-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Festivals & celebrations · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
