The Malayalam romantic comedy Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, featuring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju in the lead roles, has become one of the biggest hits of 2026. After a strong run in Kerala and overseas markets, the film is now expanding to new audiences with dubbed versions in Tamil and Telugu.
The Tamil and Telugu dubbed versions of Bethlehem Kudumba Unit arrived in theatres on September 4, 2026. The Malayalam original version first came to cinemas on August 21, 2026, during the Onam festive season. The film opened to packed houses and has continued its strong performance at the box office ever since.
The Tamil version is being released by Future Runup Films, while the Telugu version is a joint effort between Mythri Movie Makers and Future Runup Films. In Tamil Nadu, the film has opened in more than 200 screens. The Telugu release has generated significant interest, with Mythri Movie Distributors adding early morning shows in Hyderabad to meet audience demand.
What Bethlehem Kudumba Unit Is About
Directed by Girish AD, who previously made popular films like Premalu and Super Sharanya, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is a feel-good romantic comedy that blends family emotions, humour, and slice-of-life drama.
The story follows Ashley, played by Mamitha Baiju, a young woman who moves to a new neighbourhood called Karukutti with her family. She soon develops feelings for her older neighbour Justin Davis, played by Nivin Pauly, a charming unmarried man in his thirties. The relationship between the two, which has an age gap of about 12-13 years, forms the central thread of the film. The narrative explores their growing connection against the backdrop of a close-knit community and a large family.
The film is co-written by Girish AD and Kiran Josey. It is produced by Dileesh Pothan, Fahadh Faasil, and Syam Pushkaran under the banner of Bhavana Studios. Vishnu Vijay composed the music, while Ajmal Sabu handled the cinematography.
Box Office Success Drives Expansion
The decision to release dubbed versions came after the Malayalam original’s remarkable run at the box office. The film crossed the ₹100 crore mark within just six days of its Malayalam release. According to trade reports, the film has now grossed approximately ₹231.25 crore worldwide, including ₹119.25 crore from India and ₹112 crore from overseas markets. Its India net collection has crossed ₹102 crore.
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit had a strong opening, collecting ₹4.90 crore on day one, with numbers rising to ₹7.15 crore on day two and ₹8.80 crore on day three. The film’s second weekend was even stronger than its opening weekend, with combined earnings of ₹30.15 crore from Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On its second Sunday, the film reportedly collected ₹10.40 crore from 2,669 shows with an occupancy rate of 83%.
The film has become only the fourth Malayalam film to cross ₹100 crore in Kerala. With its dubbed versions now in cinemas, the film is looking to build on its strong word-of-mouth and extend its run to audiences outside Kerala.
Cast and Crew
Besides the lead pair, the film features a strong supporting cast including Sangeeth Prathap, Suresh Krishna, Vinay Forrt, Roshan Shanavas, Shyam Mohan, Srinda, Bindu Panicker, and Meenakshi Raveendran.
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Digital Streaming Details
For viewers waiting to watch the film from home, the digital streaming rights have been acquired by JioHotstar. However, an official OTT release date has not yet been announced by the makers. Given the film’s continued strong performance in theatres, the makers may allow it to remain in cinemas for a longer period before confirming its digital premiere.
Also Read: Tamil Film Industry Shuts Down From September 1: No New Releases, Shooting or Post-Production
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