Netflix's latest Hindi original, Baramulla, directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale and produced by Aditya Dhar (of Uri and Article 370 fame), dropped on November 7, 2025, and it's already stirring heated debates across streaming queues and social media feeds. This supernatural mystery-thriller, set against the snow-swept valleys of Baramulla in Kashmir, follows DSP Ridwaan Sayyed (Manav Kaul), a battle-scarred cop transferred to investigate a string of child disappearances. What starts as a procedural probe spirals into a haunting confrontation with vengeful spirits tied to a forsaken house—revealing horrors that transcend the paranormal and delve into the raw trauma of the 1990s Kashmiri Pandit exodus
Critics are divided, but the consensus leans toward appreciation for its atmospheric dread and bold ambition, even as it grapples with heavy-handed allegory. Bollywood Hungama and Times of India both award it a solid 3.5/5, praising it as a "rare, one-of-its-kind film" that masterfully turns Kashmir's icy silence into a palpable character, blending mystery, emotion, and tension with eerie charm.
The Hindu calls it a "gripping supernatural thriller with political subtext," where Jambhale nails the mood and suspense, though the 'us vs them' narrative can feel bombastic once the fog lifts.
NDTV gives it 2.5 stars for its sensitive portrayal of shared family traumas—Pandit or Muslim—but notes shortcomings in pacing.
ndtv.comOn the flip side, detractors like The Indian Express (2 stars) argue it "falters under its own weight," starting strong with atmospheric setup but unraveling into shouty accusations and inconsistent plotting.
Firstpost echoes this, lamenting that while the topic is brilliant, the latter half drowns in repetitive supernatural drama.
Some Reddit threads and audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes decry it as "propaganda" milking the Pandit plight yet again, exploitative in using real tragedies as horror gimmicks.
Yet, India Today hails the searing climax as "layered, haunting, and too moving for words," where historical horror eclipses jump scares.
Manav Kaul anchors the film with one of his career-best performances, delivering quiet intensity as the tormented DSP wrestling duty, distrust, and PTSD—carrying the weight of the story on his shoulders.
Bhasha Sumbli shines as his wife Gulnaar, torn between faith and fear, bringing luminous depth reminiscent of her work in The Kashmir Files.
Young Arista Mehta impresses as daughter Noorie with touching innocence, while child actors like Kiara Khanna and Rohaan Singh add emotional heft. Supporting players, including Neelofar Hamid and Ashwini Koul, ensure the tension stays taut.
At its core, Baramulla isn't just about ghosts snipping hair or vanishing kids—it's a poignant ode to the Kashmiri Pandits' forced exodus in the early 1990s, a genocide-like displacement amid rising militancy that scattered hundreds of thousands from their homeland, leaving scars of betrayal and loss that linger like eternal winter. The film posits that the valley's present unrest stems from unaddressed wrongs against this community, weaving supernatural vengeance as metaphor for unresolved grief.
