Bethlehem Kudumba Unit released on OTT: How Nivin Pauly, Mamitha Baiju's Rs 25 crore film turned into the Malayalam highest-grossing movie of all time

Nivin Pauly always comes on screen and brings a smile to our faces. We feel all the emotions with him, be it sadness, happiness or everything in between. Well, this time, he charmed us with his performance in Bethlehem Kudumba Unit (BKU). The Malayalam rom-com broke box-office records, played to packed theatres across the country and was later released in Tamil and Telugu dubbed versions after the original Malayalam version became a huge success. Now, the movie has arrived on OTT today, October 2. So, let’s look at how this film went from a reported Rs 25 crore production to becoming the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.

Bethlehem Kudumba Unit arrives on OTT

Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit has made its digital debut on JioHotstar on October 2, following a highly successful theatrical run. Directed by Girish AD, the film is a feel-good romantic comedy that revolves around its characters, relationships and the situations they find themselves in.

The movie stars Nivin Pauly as Justin, a local problem-solver, while Mamitha Baiju plays the female lead. Their pairing became one of the film’s biggest talking points, with audiences enjoying their chemistry and the light-hearted nature of the story. Fans are rooting for the on-screen couple and want to see them together in an another movie.




What makes the film’s OTT release interesting is the journey it has had in theatres. Reportedly made on a budget of around Rs 25 crore, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit went on to cross the Rs 300 crore mark worldwide.

How a Rs 25 crore film crossed Rs 300 crore

Bethlehem Kudumba Unit scripted box-office history during its theatrical run by overtaking Lokah: Chapter 1 - Chandra to become the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.

According to India Today report, the film crossed the Rs 300 crore mark in just 24 days and had earned around Rs 304.9 crore worldwide by September 13. This took it past Lokah’s reported lifetime worldwide collection of around Rs 302 crore.

The film’s success also marked an important comeback for Nivin Pauly in the feel-good romantic-comedy space. His character Justin is presented as a charming and approachable local problem-solver, giving the actor room to bring back the easy-going screen presence that audiences have enjoyed in his earlier films.

The chemistry between Nivin and Mamitha also worked in the film’s favour. Their combination, along with Girish AD’s breezy storytelling, helped the movie connect with audiences.

Another important factor was its appeal to family audiences. Released during the Onam season, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit managed to bring different age groups to theatres. Its clean romantic-comedy format made it an accessible watch for families, while its age-gap rom-com storytelling, humour and emotional moments helped it appeal to viewers as well.

From Malayalam hit to pan-India success

The film’s theatrical run did not slow down quickly. Strong word of mouth helped Bethlehem Kudumba Unit continue grabbing headlines and attracting audiences even amid newer films released in theatres. The movie remained a strong performer well into its fourth week, eventually reaching the top spot among Malayalam films at the worldwide box office.

Its success also helped the film expand beyond Kerala. After making an impact in Malayalam, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit was released in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi, allowing audiences in other markets to watch the film in their preferred languages.

Now, its arrival on JioHotstar gives the movie another chance to reach viewers who missed it in theatres or those who want to re-watch the movie at the comfort of their homes. With multiple language versions available, its OTT release could also introduce the Nivin Pauly-Mamitha Baiju starrer to a much wider audience.

The film’s achievement comes at a time when Malayalam cinema has been recording major box-office milestones. In 2025, Lokah: Chapter 1 - Chandra became the first Malayalam film to cross the Rs 300 crore mark. Now, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit has gone past that milestone and taken the top position.

So, with the movie now streaming on JioHotstar, audiences who missed its theatrical run can finally see what made Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju’s rom-com such a massive hit. Happy watching!