Entertainment
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit review: Nivin Pauly, Mamitha Baiju anchor an age-gap romance
Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju’s Malayalam romantic comedy ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’, directed by Girish A.D., has drawn praise for its restrained performances and subtle storytelling.
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.
Photo by Bollywood Hungama, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Entertainment
Lust Stories 3 now streaming: Netflix anthology’s latest chapter
Lust Stories 3, the third installment of the Emmy-nominated Netflix India anthology, premiered today with four stories exploring love, desire, intimacy and modern relationships.
Lust Stories 3 is now streaming on Netflix, marking the latest chapter in the platform’s popular India anthology franchise.
The anthology brings together four stories, each directed by a different filmmaker, centered on love, desire, intimacy and modern relationships.
The franchise has previously earned an Emmy nomination and built a following for exploring contemporary relationship themes.
Earlier installments of Lust Stories featured notable Indian directors and generated strong viewership on release.
The premiere arrives as part of a crowded September 2026 slate of new OTT content across Indian streaming platforms.
The earlier installments of Lust Stories featured contributions from well-known Indian directors, drawing strong viewership on the platform following their release.
Anthology films allow multiple directors to bring distinct visual and narrative styles to a single release, offering viewers a variety of tones within one watch.
Streaming anthologies have become a popular format globally for showcasing diverse voices and shorter-form storytelling outside the constraints of a full feature film.
The release adds to a busy September 2026 slate of OTT content in India, spanning multiple platforms and languages.
Netflix has continued to invest in India-specific original content as competition intensifies among streaming platforms in the country.
Critical and audience reception for the previous Lust Stories installments has generally been mixed across the four individual segments, a common pattern for anthology releases.
The film’s Emmy nomination in an earlier season helped raise the franchise’s international profile alongside its domestic popularity.
Lust Stories 3 is the third installment of the Emmy-nominated Netflix India anthology franchise, following the success of its first two seasons.
The anthology format features four separate short stories, each directed by a different filmmaker, exploring love, desire, intimacy and modern relationships.
The Lust Stories franchise has previously drawn attention for tackling contemporary themes around relationships and sexuality that are less commonly explored in mainstream Hindi cinema.
Streaming production set (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Entertainment
Daayra hits theatres: Kareena Kapoor, Prithviraj Sukumaran’s first film together
Meghna Gulzar’s investigative thriller Daayra, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in their first film together, released in cinemas today to strong reviews.
Meghna Gulzar’s Daayra hit theatres today, bringing Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran together on screen for the very first time.
The film investigates a rape case and the alleged encounter killing of four accused men, exploring the moral complexity of justice delivered outside the courtroom.
Reviewers have praised Kareena Kapoor Khan’s performance as police officer Ajooni for its understated authority, distinct from the genre’s usual aggressive cop portrayals.
Clocking in at 143 minutes, the film has received strong reviews, with ratings ranging from 3.5 to 4 stars.
Critic Ramesh Bala described the film as a ‘gripping investigative thriller backed by a solid police procedural,’ praising both lead performances.
The film runs 143 minutes and maintains tension through a police-procedural structure rather than dramatic excess.
Reviewers have rated the film between 3.5 and 4 stars, with critic Ramesh Bala calling it a ‘gripping investigative thriller backed by a solid police procedural.’
The film does not shy away from the harsh realities surrounding its central crime, examining the question of justice from multiple perspectives.
Both lead actors have been praised for holding the film together through restraint, with the story avoiding easy answers about who is right in a cop-versus-cop conflict.
Meghna Gulzar’s earlier film Raazi, also a tense thriller, was a major commercial and critical success and is often cited as a reference point for her directorial style.
The film’s climax has drawn mixed reactions from some critics even as the overall reception remained largely positive.
Daayra released in cinemas nationwide today alongside the regular Friday slate of new film releases in India.
Daayra is directed by Meghna Gulzar, known for previous films including Talvar, Raazi and Sam Bahadur.
The film marks the first time Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran have starred together on screen.
The story follows investigations into a rape case and the alleged encounter killing of four accused men, examining questions of justice and morality.
Regal Cinema, Mumbai (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Entertainment
Salman Khan celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi with family, friends
Salman Khan attended Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at brother Sohail Khan’s residence, drawing attention for his signature head-covering look amid a star-studded guest list.
Salman Khan celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with family and friends at brother Sohail Khan’s residence.
The actor’s appearance, in a blue striped shirt, light blue jeans and a white scarf over his head, drew significant fan attention.
Karan Johar, Maheep Kapoor, Iulia Vantur, Genelia Deshmukh and Seema Sajdeh were among the guests at the celebration.
Pooja Hegde, Neha Dhupia with Angad Bedi, and influencer Orry were also among those spotted at the gathering.
Salman later made an appearance at the Ambani family’s Ganpati celebrations at Antilia in Mumbai.
After the celebrations at his brother’s residence, Salman Khan reportedly made an appearance at the Ambani family’s Ganpati festivities at Antilia in Mumbai.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai typically draw large gatherings at both private residences and public pandals across the city.
Bollywood celebrities visiting each other’s Ganpati celebrations during the festival has become an annual tradition, often generating significant media and fan attention.
The festival, which honours the elephant-headed deity Ganesha, is one of the most widely celebrated events in Maharashtra and across much of India.
Photos and videos from celebrity Ganpati visits are typically shared widely on social media by both fans and professional photographers present at the events.
The Ganesh Chaturthi festival period culminates in visarjan, the ceremonial immersion of Ganesha idols, usually observed with processions in cities across India.
Salman sported a blue striped shirt with light blue jeans and a white scarf worn over his head, which drew attention from fans and photographers at the event.
The head covering was seen by some as a way of concealing his look ahead of an upcoming film project.
Karan Johar, Maheep Kapoor, Iulia Vantur, Genelia Deshmukh and Seema Sajdeh were among the other attendees at Sohail Khan’s Ganpati celebrations.
Pooja Hegde, Neha Dhupia and her husband Angad Bedi, and social media influencer Orry were also spotted at the gathering.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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