2026 · Film
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit
Girish A. D.'s Malayalam romantic comedy, with Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, about a college student whose move to Angamaly leads to an unlikely romance.
Released Fri, 21 Aug, 2026
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Mon, 26 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAccording to an October 2026 report, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is streaming in India on JioHotstar with a subscription. We have not yet confirmed this in the app.
The story
Ashley, a college student from Mundakkayam, moves with her family to Angamaly after money troubles, leaving behind her childhood home, her friends and her band. Her father drinks and cannot be relied on, and her mother holds the household together. In the new town Ashley meets Justin, an older man, and despite the gap in their ages and the disapproval around them, the two are drawn to each other in a story told partly in flashback.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
A warm pick for viewers who enjoyed *Premalu* or easy-going Malayalam romances, now with a Hindi dub. It runs about two and a half hours; the age-gap romance is handled lightly, and it suits teenagers and adults.
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit was directed by Girish A. D., who made Premalu, and co-written with Kiran Josey. Fahadh Faasil, Dileesh Pothan and Syam Pushkaran produced it under Bhavana Studios, on a budget of about ₹25 crore; it is Girish's first film with Nivin Pauly and his third with Mamitha Baiju. Filming began in Kochi in January 2026.
It opened on 21 August 2026 for Onam, with Tamil and Telugu dubs following on 4 September, and became one of the year's biggest Malayalam hits; Wikipedia records a worldwide gross of ₹330.93 crore. It began streaming on JioHotstar on 2 October 2026 in Malayalam with Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada versions, and Variety India reported it was the most-watched non-Hindi film in India in its first streaming weekend.
The facts
- Language
- Malayalam
- Hindi
- Hindi dub available
- Genre
- Romantic comedy
- Runtime
- 155 min
- Director
- Girish A. D.
- Cast
- Nivin Pauly, Mamitha Baiju
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Bethlehem Kudumba Unit in India?
- According to an October 2026 report, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is streaming in India on JioHotstar with a subscription. We have not yet confirmed this in the app.
- Is Bethlehem Kudumba Unit available in Hindi?
- Yes. Bethlehem Kudumba Unit was made in Malayalam, and a Hindi-dubbed version is available.
- How long is Bethlehem Kudumba Unit?
- Bethlehem Kudumba Unit runs for 2 hours 35 minutes (155 minutes).