This year, Netflix India released a fairly long list of original films. On paper, it looked exciting. But once the dust settled, it became clear that this was a very uneven year for Netflix originals, with one film clearly rising above the rest.
The original films we got from Netflix India this year include Baramulla, Inspector Zende, Aap Jaisa Koi, Dhoom Dhaam, Nadaaniyan, Test, and The Jewel Thief. It is a wide mix of thrillers, romances, coming-of-age stories, sports drama, and action. Sadly, most of these films ended up feeling undercooked or simply uninspired.
Aap Jaisa Koi had a pleasant surface and a few sincere moments, but it never pushed itself emotionally. It stayed too comfortable. Dhoom Dhaam mistook noise for energy and speed for excitement, leaving very little behind once it ended. Nadaaniyan felt stuck in an older idea of teenage romance, predictable in both tone and storytelling. Test looked promising because of its cast and premise, but the film struggled to bring its ideas together and lost focus along the way. The Jewel Thief was a huge disappointment. The movie failed to be a decent entertainer and all we can say is, “UGH”.
Among these, Inspector Zende deserves some credit. It is not a great film, but it is not careless either. There is effort in the performances and a seriousness in how the story is treated. It holds your attention better than most others in the lineup, even though it does not fully live up to its potential.
And then there is Baramulla.
Baramulla is not flawless. It has its imperfections and moments where the storytelling could have been sharper. But what truly sets it apart is that it feels thoughtfully made. The film has a strong sense of what it wants to say. It takes its time, trusts its audience, and does not dilute its themes for easy consumption.
In that sense, Baramulla belongs in the same league of films as Qala and Amar Singh Chamkila. Those films remain some of the most beautiful and confident originals Netflix India has produced, and while Baramulla may not be as polished, it stands tall alongside them because of its intent and honesty. It feels like a film made by people who cared deeply about what they were saying.
Looking back at Netflix India’s original films this year, the picture is quite clear. Most of them turned out to be major disappointments. Only Inspector Zende managed to escape that fate to some extent. Baramulla, however, emerged as the finest film of the lot. In a year filled with forgettable content, it reminded us that Netflix India can still deliver meaningful cinema when it chooses substance over noise.
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