Nivin Pauly returns in light-hearted romance ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’

Nivin Pauly returns in light-hearted romance 'Bethlehem Kudumba Unit' The actor calls his Onam release Bethlehem Kudumba Unit a 'simple, breezy love story' ideal for the festival season.

Key points

• The trailers of Bethlehem Kudumba Unit show glimpses of the Nivin Pauly of the older films, the lighter ones, the most obvious one being Ohm Shanti Oshaana.
• "Now that you mention it, yes, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit has an OSO vibe, " notes the actor, over the phone.
• Nivin Pauly with Mamitha Baiju in the film Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.
• This is his first film with Girish, who, according to Nivin, is down to earth without the airs of someone who has been delivering consecutive hits.
• Of acting with Mamitha Baiju, he notes, she has evolved into an actor who can essay any role with ease.

Notably, the trailers of Bethlehem Kudumba Unit show glimpses of the Nivin Pauly of the older films, the lighter ones, the most obvious one being Ohm Shanti Oshaana. Though he is older, that smile is still impish. If Malayalam cinema were to have a sweetheart who is a man, at the time, it would have been Nivin. He still is, if the response to the film's promotion at a city college is anything to go by. After OSO, like Nazariya Nazim.

"Now that you mention it, yes, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit has an OSO vibe, " notes the actor, over the phone. The similarity is that both are age gap love stories, a romance between an older man Nivin as Justin and a younger woman, Ashley played by Mamitha Baiju.

"It is additionally a film informed from the female perspective; a young woman falling in love with a slightly older man. Such stories are few these days; they are usually informed from the male perspective unlike this movie. As in Premalu or Thaneer Mathan Dinangal.", and like all of Girish's films, female characters are always powerful.

He describes his role in the film, "Justin is one of those guys we might have all seen in settings which are not urban. He is the guy in the neighbourhood who is an all-in-all, helps everybody and is happy and content where he is." One of the reasons he accepted the role was the relatability of the character.

"The setting is something that I know, like the kind I grew up in. And I have grown up seeing chettans like Justin, interacting with them and being around guys like him. I have hung out with them, doing a lot of stuff like at church or chipping during functions.it was all particularly familiar! I was around individuals like this till I was in Class 12." Nivin Pauly Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

He is additionally essaying a character who is closer to his age, which, he states wryly, is not that major of a agreement since "it is the reality!"

This is his first film with Girish, who, according to Nivin, is down to earth without the airs of someone who has been delivering consecutive hits. "He is one of the most wanted directors among the current crop. The stories he tells, and the characters he etches, are drawn from his life and experiences, and in that sense they are particularly rooted, much like the person he is. He is not a show-off; he wants to create a film, so he draws inspiration from around him and makes films. It is comfortable working with someone like him; you can bounce ideas off him. He lets you do your thing, and if he feels something is not working, he will tell you that. It is straightforward working with someone like him. At the end of the day, cinema is regarding provide and take and communication. It girish makes straightforward."

Having done films that span various genres, he notes he likes movies such as this: "a simple, breezy love story. The kind that will leave you feeling happy and with the satisfaction of having watched a good film." The December 2025 release Sarvam Maya, one of the year's top grossers, additionally had Nivin in a comedic outing. Among his films this year are Baby Girl and Prathichaya. He is at present filming NP 51. That is not all, he has two Tamil films lined up: Benz and Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai.

As it suggests a good old "family film", and Nivin avers, watching the trailer leaves one smiling. "It is Onam, a time when we go out as a family, take our parents and kids along for a film. This is a film that one can go to watch without any apprehensions regarding the content or the humour!" Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is playing in theatres.

For now, nivin Pauly returns in light-hearted romance 'Bethlehem Kudumba Unit' remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.