Baramulla has released on Netflix with an overwhelmingly positive reaction. Director Aditya Suhas Jambhale and his co-writer Aditya Dhar have received a lot of praise for the work on the movie. The horror-thriller narrates the story of a series of missing Kashmiri children, who disappear out of the blue from odd places.
Baramulla is a slow-burner that slowly builds towards a crescendo as the story unravels itself bit by bit. It features Manav Kaul as DSP Ridwaan Shafi Sayyed in the lead. Bhasha Sumbli plays the role of his wife Gulnaar Sayyed. Arista Mehta and Rohaan Singh play the role of their children, Noorie and Ayaan, respectively.
Without further ado, here are 5 reasons why you should give it a watch.
#1: Portrayal of Terrorism: Major sub-plot that contributes to the atmospheric doom and gloom
Baramulla has one of the most honest depictions of the struggles of Kashmiri society. It captures the modus operandi of terrorists extremely well. However, the movie treats it in a very matter-of-fact manner. It does not go out of its way to exaggerate the influence of terrorism in the valley. Instead, it uses terrorism to accentuate the atmospheric gloom and doom of the story.
Characters are scared to be seen with the Police. Former terrorists exert undue influence on society. Antagonists in the movie are terrorists themselves. Yet, terrorism remains a major sub-plot in the story. It never overshadows the struggles of the primary characters. Their emotions, frustrations, anger, agony, continue to be the primary drivers of the story.
Baramulla never shies away from discussing controversial themes and topics. Yet, it never tries to make them the point of the story.
#2: Baramulla has the best on screen portrayal of the trauma of Kashmiri Pandits
The movie does far better justice in narrating the trauma of Kashmiri Pandits than any other. It is certainly a much better portrayal than whatever Shikara was. The Genocide is one of the core plot points of the movie. Again, as is the case with terrorism, it does not feel out of place or a force-fit, as has been the case with some other movies and shows.
The main reason why it works is that it does not compromise with the essential story. Terrorism in the valley, the Genocide of Kashmiri Pandits, all of it serve as essential plot points for narrating the overall story. The plot points serve the story, not the other way around. The scene that shows the fate of the Kashmiri Pandit family will actually shatter your heart into a million pieces. But the conclusion will do just enough to put it all back together, hopeful for a better future.
#3: The Horror of Baramulla
In Baramulla, supernatural forces are the least of people’s worries. There’s more than enough horror perpetuated by humans to go around. Indeed, the real monsters in the show are humans themselves. Humans kill each other in the name of their religion. They brainwash children to commit Jihad against Kaafirs. They rob them of their childhood and turn them into instruments of their hatred.
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The movies constantly reminds you that human actions cause more horror than any demon from the underworld ever could. The supernatural forces hardly ever appear on screen. When they do, their impact is terrifying. But for the most part, it’s the humans who give you cause for worry. And that is why Baramulla is such a great horror movie.
Everything in the story contributes to the horror. That is how it differs majorly from other Bollywood horror flicks. The others seem to believe that the only way you can horrify the audience is by throwing random CGI ghosts on screen. Baramulla lets the story itself do the work.
#4: The Actors, Cinematography and other Technical Aspects
The cinematography in Baramulla is brilliant. The filmmakers manage to shoot at some of the most beautiful places in the Union Territory. The house which the story revolves around serves as a character in itself. The colour palettes contribute to the gloomy tone and terror of the movie. The cinematography emphatically makes the suffocating trepidation of the story absolutely relentless.
Furthermore, the background score adds further anxiety to the mix. The music blends beautifully with the story and the cinematography to create a potent mix of dread and apprehension. The Visual Effects are pretty good too.
Manav Kaul and Bhasha Sumbli deliver stellar performances and occupy the screen with remarkable ease. The child actors also deliver performances with maturity that far exceeds their age. Arista Mehta at 17 would embarrass many top Bollywood actresses with her performance. She certainly has a bright future in the movie industry. Truly, it’s hard to think of one actor who gave an underwhelming performance.
#5: Baramulla: The Story
Baramulla is one of the most Hindi-language horror-thriller I have come across. As I said before, it isn’t the supernatural forces that horrify you the most. It’s the people, the characters, the monstrosity that humans are capable of, that consistent anxious feeling that the ambience of the movie generates, those are the things that fuel the sentiment of dread in the story.
If you are going in expecting jump scares, scary ghosts, evil supernatural forces to be the core elements of the story, then the movie is not for you. But if you are more into character-driven horror stories, then Baramulla is right up your alley.
