Entertainment
oi-Prakash KL
Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit has emerged as one of the biggest Malayalam hits of 2026, continuing its strong run at the box office more than a month after its theatrical release.
Directed by Girish AD, the romantic comedy hit the screens on August 21 and has gone on to cross the Rs 300 crore mark in worldwide gross collections. The film has also managed to maintain a steady pace at the Indian box office despite completing more than five weeks in theatres.
Girish AD’s ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’, featuring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, has surpassed ₹300 crore globally and ₹162.10 crore in India net, with a reported October 2 OTT release on JioHotstar.
According to early estimates by Sacnilk.com, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit earned around Rs 68 lakh net in India on its 37th day. Its total India net collection has now reached Rs 162.10 crore, while the India gross stands at Rs 189.23 crore.
The film’s worldwide gross has climbed to Rs 326.98 crore, combining its domestic and overseas earnings. The Malayalam version opened in theatres on August 21, while the Telugu and Tamil dubbed versions followed on September 4.
The success of the film has also brought considerable attention to the pairing of Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju. Both actors have previously been associated with popular romantic films, with Nivin known for Premam and Mamitha gaining recognition with Premalu. Their chemistry in Bethlehem Kudumba Unit has been one of the talking points among audiences.
The film is produced by Fahadh Faasil, Dileesh Pothan and Syam Pushkaran. Girish AD and Kiran Josey have penned the screenplay. Vishnu Vijay has composed the music, while Ajmal Sabu and Akash Joseph Varghese have handled cinematography and editing, respectively.
For Mamitha Baiju, the film marks her third collaboration with Girish AD. The actor-director duo had earlier worked together on Super Sharanya and Premalu.
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit OTT release
The film’s theatrical success has naturally raised expectations around its digital premiere. According to a report by Indian Express Malayalam, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is expected to begin streaming on JioHotstar from October 2. The platform reportedly holds the film’s post-theatrical streaming rights.
However, the makers are yet to officially confirm the OTT release date. There have also been reports suggesting that the digital premiere could be pushed further if the film continues to draw audiences to theatres.
For now, October 2 remains the reported OTT date, and an official announcement from the makers is awaited.
