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Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, the Malayalam romantic comedy-drama directed by Girish A.D. and starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, released in theatres on August 21, 2026, and has emerged as the biggest Malayalam hit of all time, grossing over Rs 300 crore worldwide.
At its core, the narrative explores an unconventional age-gap romance. The story revolves around Justin, a resourceful bachelor in his thirties from Karukutty who's doing a lot of different things in life. The story progresses when Ashley, a young college student, relocates to his neighborhood. Though she is cautious and skeptical of Justin at first, she gradually finds herself drawn to his quirky charm.
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit released alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran's Khalifa and Dulquer Salmaan's I'm Game during the Onam season and comfortably outperformed both. Its Tamil and Telugu dubbed versions followed on September 4, extending its reach well beyond Malayalam-speaking audiences.
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit's leading cast includes Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju. The screenplay is written by Girish A.D. and Kiran Josey, who previously collaborated on Premalu. Ajmal Sabu handled cinematography, Akash Joseph Varghese edited the film, and Vishnu Vijay composed the music. It's produced by Fahadh Faasil, Dileesh Pothan, and Syam Pushkaran under Bhavana Studios.
The film has reportedly crossed Rs 323 crore worldwide within 32 days of release, with over Rs 150 crore coming from Kerala alone. The movie has overtaken L2: Empuraan, Thudarum, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, and Vaazha II to become the highest-grossing Malayalam film yet.
JioHotstar has the streaming rights for this movie, as confirmed by the opening credits in the film. This is corroborated by trade trackers, which list JioHotstar as the presumed platform for its digital premiere.
As of now, there's no confirmed release date. The makers haven't announced when the film will hit streaming.
Big Malayalam hits often wait six to eight weeks or longer before going to OTT to protect theatrical revenue, which could put a realistic window somewhere in October or November. This, however, is only a guess and not an official, confirmed fact
When will Bethlehem Kudumba Unit release on OTT?
No official date yet — big Malayalam hits typically wait six to eight weeks before streaming, which could put it around October or November 2026, though this isn't confirmed.
Which OTT platform will stream Bethlehem Kudumba Unit?
JioHotstar, based on the film's opening credits and trade tracker reports.
How much has Bethlehem Kudumba Unit earned at the box office?
It's crossed Rs 300 crore worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Malayalam film to date.