Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, the new Malayalam romantic comedy starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, has drawn praise from critics for its restrained performances and subtle storytelling.

Directed by Girish A.D. and produced by Bhavana Studios, the film follows Ashley, played by Mamitha Baiju, a college-bound young woman who forms an unlikely bond with her much older neighbour Justin, played by Nivin Pauly, after he recognises a band on her phone wallpaper.

The story, which explores themes of music, family dysfunction and emotional maturity, navigates the couple’s romance despite their significant age gap.

In his review, critic Vishal Menon praised the director’s approach of showing rather than telling, pointing to a scene involving Ashley’s old house as an example of communicating character depth without exposition.

Both lead performances were singled out for praise, with Mamitha Baiju showing more restraint than in previous roles and Nivin Pauly delivering what the review called a minimal performance that amplifies the film’s emotional impact.

The film was officially announced in July 2025, with principal photography beginning in January 2026 in Kochi; some reviewers noted it meanders slightly toward the end, though the overall reception has been largely positive.

The technical crew includes cinematographer Ajmal Sabu, editor Akash Joseph Varghese, and composer Vishnu Vijay, whose work on the soundtrack has also drawn attention alongside the film’s central performances.

Girish A.D. has built a reputation in Malayalam cinema for character-driven, gently paced storytelling in his earlier films, a style that critics say carries through into this latest release.

At just over two and a half hours long, the film has been positioned as a slower, more observational entry in the romantic comedy genre compared to more plot-heavy contemporaries.

The film is produced by Bhavana Studios, which has backed a number of recent Malayalam releases as the industry continues to see strong theatrical turnout for character-driven dramas.

Reviewers have generally agreed that the film’s success rests heavily on the chemistry between its two leads, with the age-gap premise handled with more sensitivity than some earlier attempts at similar storylines in Indian cinema.

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Khosla Ka Ghosla 2, the sequel to the beloved 2006 comedy-drama, is set to release in theatres on August 28, 2026.

The film reunites original cast members Anupam Kher and Boman Irani, alongside Ranvir Shorey, Parvin Dabas and Ravi Kishan in lead roles.

The sequel is directed by Prashant Bhagia, taking over from Dibakar Banerjee, who helmed the original film.

The supporting cast includes Harsh Chhaya, Divya Khossla, Mikail Gandhi, Danish Iqbal, Kiran Juneja, Brijendra Kala, Anusha Lal, Tanya Maniktala, Mrityunjay Pandey and Rajesh Sharma, among others.

The sequel is produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar under T-Series, in association with Tandav Films.

The original 2006 film, directed by Dibakar Banerjee, followed a middle-class Delhi family’s fight to reclaim their plot of land from a property dealer, and went on to become a cult favourite for its sharp writing and ensemble cast.

The film falls under the comedy-drama genre, continuing the franchise’s blend of family dynamics and social satire that defined the original.

Details of the sequel’s plot have largely been kept under wraps ahead of release, with the makers gradually revealing cast and crew details in the lead-up to the theatrical debut.

The supporting cast includes Harsh Chhaya, Divya Khossla, Mikail Gandhi, Danish Iqbal, Kiran Juneja, Brijendra Kala, Anusha Lal, Tanya Maniktala, Mrityunjay Pandey and Rajesh Sharma, among others.

The sequel is produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar under T-Series, in association with Tandav Films.

The original 2006 film, directed by Dibakar Banerjee, followed a middle-class Delhi family’s fight to reclaim their plot of land from a property dealer, and went on to become a cult favourite for its sharp writing and ensemble cast.

Anupam Kher’s portrayal of patriarch K.K. Khosla in the original film remains one of the most fondly remembered performances of his career, and his return to the role is a key draw for the sequel.

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Emraan Hashmi’s Awarapan 2 has crossed Rs 136.25 crore net in India after ten days at the box office.

The film added Rs 8.75 crore on day ten, its second Sunday in theatres, playing across 13,632 shows nationwide.

That marked a 6.1% rise over the previous day’s collection, as the second-weekend numbers held up better than the film’s slower midweek run.

Day nine had brought in Rs 8.25 crore, a 43.5% jump over day eight’s Rs 5.75 crore, taking the nine-day domestic total to Rs 127.50 crore before the latest update.

The film opened to Rs 22 crore on day one and posted its best single-day figure of Rs 33.75 crore on day two, before collections eased through the first week.

Directed as a sequel to the 2007 original, Awarapan 2 has now settled into a steady second-weekend run as it heads into its third week of release.

Trade analysts have pointed to a stronger-than-average second-weekend hold, with day ten collections improving over both day eight and day nine.

Box office figures for recent Bollywood releases are compiled daily from national distributor and exhibitor tracking data by trade portals such as Sacnilk.

The original Awarapan, released in 2007, was directed by Mohit Suri and is remembered as one of the darker psychological thrillers of Emraan Hashmi’s early career.

The film added Rs 8.25 crore on day nine, a 43.5% jump over its day eight collection of Rs 5.75 crore, as audiences returned over the second weekend.

Awarapan 2 is a sequel to the 2007 psychological thriller Awarapan, which also starred Emraan Hashmi and was directed by Mohit Suri.

With its overseas gross added in, the film’s worldwide total stood at close to Rs 181 crore after nine days, according to trade estimates.

The movie opened to Rs 22 crore on day one and saw its best single-day total on day two with Rs 33.75 crore, before a typical mid-week dip.

Photo by Bollywood Hungama, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0