Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, the Malayalam romantic comedy-drama directed by Girish A.D. and starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, is now streaming on JioHotstar starting today, October 2, 2026. The film is available in Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, bringing this phenomenal theatrical hit to audiences across India. The OTT release comes approximately six weeks after its theatrical debut on August 21, 2026, during the Onam festival, and marks the digital arrival of one of the most successful Malayalam films ever made.
Produced under the prestigious banner of Bhavana Studios, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit has rewritten Malayalam cinema history. The film crossed the ₹300 crore mark at the global box office within just 24 days of release, overtaking Lokah: Chapter 1 to become the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time worldwide. As of late September, its global total has climbed to ₹328.40 crore, with overseas markets contributing ₹137.95 crore, placing it second only to Mohanlal’s L2: Empuraan in Malayalam cinema’s overseas box office history. In Kerala alone, the film became the first Malayalam movie to cross ₹150 crore, comfortably surpassing the previous record held by Vaazha II. Industry analysts attribute much of its success to repeat viewership, a rare phenomenon in Malayalam cinema that signals deep audience connection with the film’s characters and story.
The story follows Ashley Thankachan, played by Mamitha Baiju, a young college student who moves with her family from Mundakayam to a community unit in Angamaly. She gradually develops feelings for her older neighbor, Justin Davis, played by Nivin Pauly, a mature and charming man in his thirties who runs a catering business and serves as the neighborhood’s trusted problem-solver. The two bond over a shared love of music, but family pressure and their age gap pull them apart before Ashley leaves for Ireland. Years later, she returns to Kerala for a neighbor’s wedding, and old feelings resurface. Critics have widely praised the film’s mature and sensitive handling of its age-gap romance. The Indian Express noted that the brilliance of Girish and co-writer Kiran Josey lies in the fact that viewers never feel any discomfort, while the film also does not sweep the age-gap issue under the carpet. The Week called it Girish A.D.’s best work yet, describing it as an overdose of feel-good entertainment.
