Bethlehem Kudumba Unit: How A Rs 25-Crore Film Became Rs 300-Crore Blockbuster

Malayalam cinema has been having a wonderful run at the box office in recent times. In 2025, Lokah: Chapter 1 Chandra became the first Malayalam film to hit Rs 300 crores. This year, it is Bethlehem Kudumba Unit (BKU) that has grossed more than Rs 305 crore in just 25 days, making it Malayalam cinema's biggest box office hit.

Director Girish AD's romantic comedy, starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, is being hailed by both audiences and the film industry for alike for its refreshing story, superb performances and strong emotional connect. This film's extraordinary theatrical run has once again highlighted the growing reach and commercial potential of Malayalam cinema beyond Kerala.

But there is something particularly special about Bethlehem Kudumba Unit which has made this Rs 25 crore budget (reportedly) film rake in more than Rs 308 crore today.

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According to Sacnilk, by Week 1, the movie had crossed Rs 52 crore at the Indian box office while by week 2 it had grossed more than Rs 102 crore. By week 3, it had grossed around Rs 135 crore in India. Today, it has collected Rs 308.40 crore worldwide with India contributing around Rs 173.40 crore. The movie grew word-of-mouth week on week and while the Onam release got people into theatres, the good content has kept them there.

Onam is a very important festival for the Malayalam audience and filmmakers mostly tend to target families and the overseas Kerala audience. Being a festival and with several days off work, Malayalam audiences take the opportunity to celebrate and watch films with family and friends. And this is what Bethlehem Kudumba Unit has been able to tap into with its strong content.

Producer and National Award winner G Dhananjayan is of the opinion that Bethlehem Kudumba Unit was a film that cut across all age groups and unanimously touched everyone emotionally. "Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is a fresh story, which brought in a lot of energy, feel-good emotions and nostalgic memories for many people. For men, it's like hoping for such unconditional love from a young girl. The movie's story and emotions resonated with both men and women and hence, it became such a huge success. This is also the first time a love story has appealed not only to youngsters but also to the middle-aged and elders as the theme connected with all of them. Thus, there is such a huge response to the film," he explains.

Bethlehem Kudumba Unit was not a spectacle film nor was it a big-budget one. It also didn't have a larger-than-life premise or star-driven scale. Produced by Bhavana Studios (Dileesh Pothan, Fahadh Faasil, Syam Pushkaran), the romantic comedy was very family-oriented.

Director Girish AD took an unconventional premise - the story of a young college-going woman who falls in love with a much older man - and narrated it with remarkable simplicity and emotional restraint adding some comic touches.

Rather than sensationalising the age-gap romance, the filmmaker presents it through a lens of tenderness, innocence and what can best be described as 'clean' emotions. This was one of the biggest factors why family audiences too appreciated the film and enjoyed the journey of Ashley (Mamitha Baiju) and Justin (Nivin Pauly).

In fact, this movie was Malayalam star Nivin Paul's biggest hit in his career and he credits it to family audiences. He told Variety, "This is my biggest hit so far. All credit goes to the team, especially director Girish AD. It was a wonderful script. The age-gap romance, the packaging, the humour... everything landed. Family audiences are the backbone of Indian cinema, in any language. If families like a film, ticket sales soar. Theatres are happy too - concession sales boom."

Director Girish AD is a director who has had numerous blockbusters to his credit like Thanneer Mathan Dinangal and Premalu. His stories and characters always resonate with the audience as he makes slice-of-life dramas with relatable characters and layers beneath an apparently simple surface. The story of Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, for instance, was a set in a particular neighbourhood and Girish brought in the residents living next to Ashley and Justin as highly relatable characters whom the audience could emotionally connect with.

This added more authenticity, warmth and humour to the setting and world that the director presented us. The director doesn't give us punch lines but unique behaviour patterns in flawed people that are humorous. For instance, Nivin Pauly in BKU attempts to create a heart with his hands but does it upside down because he's not familiar with Gen Z behaviour. And this act makes us giggle. Even the supporting characters (like the three sisters) are funny and have distinct but relatable personalities. Ultimately, Girish's understanding of human behaviour is what makes his films tick.

Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is a modestly budgeted, content-driven Malayalam film and Girish AD found the one thing that is extremely difficult to create - a broad emotional connection in the form of an age-gap romance.

Also Read | "She's A Natural": Bethlehem Kudumba Unit Director On Being Proud Of Mamitha Baiju's Success

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Box Office: Hanuman Ansh Earns Rs 22 Crore, Crosses Rs 250 Crore Mark

Hanuman Ansh has continued to perform strongly at the box office in its sixth week. 

What's Happening

Per Sacnilk, Hanuman Ansh collected Rs 22.50 crore nett in India. 

The film recorded 54% overall occupancy across 8,902 shows. Its Sunday collection was 21.6% higher than the Rs 18.50 crore it earned on Saturday.

The film had earned Rs 10.50 crore on its sixth Friday from 5,743 shows, recording 38% occupancy. Its collection rose sharply on Saturday, when it registered 52% occupancy across 7,449 shows.

With the latest figures, Hanuman Ansh has accumulated Rs 214.63 crore in India net collections. Its domestic gross collection currently stands at Rs 253.55 crore.

The film earned Rs 5 crore overseas on Day 38, taking its cumulative overseas gross collection to Rs 14.50 crore.

Its worldwide gross collection has now reached Rs 268.05 crore.

Background

Hanuman Ansh did not have an easy run initially. After the release of the film, the arrival of movies such as Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2 saw its screen count fall to just 25. 

However, after Batwara 1947 failed to perform as expected, the number of screens for Hanuman Ansh gradually started increasing. 

The audience response also grew, with crowds thronging theatres to watch the film.

The relentless promotional campaign has taken a toll on director Vishal Chaturvedi's health. He is now returning to Mumbai. 

Speaking about his plans, Vishal said that Ganesh Utsav is beginning in Mumbai and that during the festival, he will visit different pandals to thank Bappa.

About Hanuman Ansh

Written and directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, Hanuman Ansh is a retelling of the life of Uttarakhand's revered saint Baba Neem Karoli, whose real name was Lakshman Narayan Sharma. 

The film, made on a budget of Rs 1.75 crore, follows a grieving young Lakshmi Narayan, who embarks on a spiritual journey in search of God after the death of his mother.

As he travels across North India seeking answers to life, death and human suffering, he eventually transforms into the revered saint Neem Karoli Baba, whose teachings of love, service and compassion touched countless lives.

The film stars Shobhinaw Satya in the lead role alongside Vihaan Shedge, Chandan K Anand, Purnima Tiwari, Anil Rastogi, Gulshan Pandey and Bhagvandas Patel.

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Sooryavanshi On Verge Of Another 'Youngest' Record As India Face Afghanistan

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is set to break more records as India take on Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series, starting September 13. The 15-year-old is in line to play for India in the series, after winning the 'Player of the Series' award in his last international series against Zimbabwe. If he does play against Afghanistan, Sooryavanshi will become the youngest player from an ICC full-member nation to play international cricket in India. He will break Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman's record from 2018.

Mujeeb was 17 years and 78 days old when he played for Afghanistan in a Test against India in Bengaluru, in 2018. Sooryavanshi will comfortably break the record if he plays in the series.

Interestingly, Mujeeb and Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran are both among the youngest players to play international cricket in India, and both could be playing against Sooryavanshi in the series.

Sooryavanshi already holds numerous age-related records in international cricket. Earlier this year, he broke Sachin Tendulkar's record of being the youngest-ever to debut for India.

The 15-year-old is set to compete with the likes of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan for a spot in India's high-quality and highly competitive T20I top order. Abhishek Sharma's spot at the top appears to be secure.

Kishan, who slammed a combined 350 runs across two innings in the Duleep Trophy 2026 final just a few days ago, could miss out due to an injury. India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer provided an update on the situation, ahead of the match.

"I feel that he's comfortable at the moment. I interacted with him after the practice session. It was just a small niggle, and he's been playing continuous cricket. We all know the knock he played, so definitely a bit fatigued. But today he got that rest, and I'm sure that he will be fine for tomorrow," Iyer said.

On his preferred team combination, Iyer said he wanted players to have clarity about their roles while ensuring they feel needed by the team.

"Every individual, rather than knowing the role, it is important that they should have the awareness that the team requires them," he said.

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US Companies Get Creative As Tariff Refunds Start Flowing In

US companies getting refunds after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's import tariffs are using the temporary windfall in a range of creative ways. 
The refunds are being used to cover rising costs, supplement employee retirement accounts and repay debt. Some are sharing the bounty with vendors. And a number of consumer companies are beefing up their assortment of lower-priced products and offering deals to attract budget-conscious shoppers pinched by the rising cost of living.

Companies in the Russell 3000 Index mentioned tariff refunds almost 1,000 times in earnings calls and filings in July, August and September, according to a Bloomberg News analysis, almost four times more than in the previous earnings season. Consumer discretionary and staples companies accounted for more than a third of the references, disclosing the receipt of close to $9.8 billon in refunds during that period.

Roughly $166 billion was paid in tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, which was overturned in February. Executives were initially reluctant to discuss their plans for pursuing refunds as they assessed criticism from the president and legal challenges from consumers seeking their share of the payouts.

They've been more forthcoming in recent months as the refunds started rolling in.

Williams-Sonoma Inc. said in late August that it put $10 million of the $200 million it received back toward employee 401(k) contributions. It also paid $47.5 million to vendors who gave the retailer discounts on inventory purchases to offset tariff costs. 

“We're so appreciative to have the money back and to be able to reward our employees with part of it,” Williams-Sonoma Chief Executive Officer Laura Alber said on a call with analysts. She pointed to efforts by employees to mitigate the impact of tariffs during “a very chaotic year moving products all over the world.”

Kohl's Corp. shared some of the roughly $150 million in refunds with vendors who paid more to import inventory from manufacturers while the tariffs were in effect. Chief Financial Officer Jill Timm told analysts the company also reinvested cash in its business, including boosting inventory levels for its lower-priced brands.

Cash Now, Please
Some companies have opted to take advantage of a growing secondary market for tariff claims, since chasing down the exact amount due can be a lengthy process. 

Funko, Inc., the parent of Funko Pops and other collectibles brands, said it sold more than $22 million in tariff refund claims for $19.2 million to a third-party financial institution and used some of the proceeds to pay down a term loan. Printer maker Xerox Holdings Corp. recognized $105 million in tariff refunds, then sold the receivable to a third party for $80 million in cash to help reduce its debt load, executives said. 

Academy Sports & Outdoors Inc. recorded $83.7 million in refunds, then sold $72.2 million of the claims to a third party for $10.5 million. The sporting goods retailer said it used the proceeds mainly to lower prices.

Other retailers have also translated the refunds into more direct benefits for shoppers.

Walmart Inc. said on its August earnings call that some of its refund was going into temporary discounts and deals. Elf Beauty Inc. plans to use some of the $50 million it received to lower prices on roughly 10% of its products.

Only Temporary
While companies are starting to get some money back, it's just temporary relief. Some have flagged the US-Canada trade dispute as a potential risk going forward, and many firms told investors they're using the refunds to help offset higher costs for fuel and materials, which have continued to rise. 

Helen of Troy Ltd., which owns the household brands OXO and Hydro Flask, said the more than $9 million it received during the first phase of refunds will be “more than offset” by expected higher costs for the remainder of the year. 

The “temporary tariff tailwind” is being eclipsed by inflationary pressure and higher prices for materials like metals and oil, Stanley Black & Decker Inc. said. The power tools maker said “it appears more likely than not a price increase will be necessary” in 2027 as a result of inflation.

Bath & Body Works Inc. is forecasting $30 million in additional tariff and other input costs during the second half of this year, and that Canada tariffs will remain at 50% for the remainder of 2026, CFO Tom Javitch told analysts on a call. The company makes some of its candles in Canada and has retail stores located there, so the company could be affected by both US and Canada levies, he said.

“We also have a large Canada retail business, so there is exposure to retaliatory tariffs if applied to our categories, and we're still evaluating this as new information is being released, really in real time,” Javitch said.
 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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US-Iran Conflict, Oil Rally, Modi-Putin Talks, NSE IPO & More - The Week That Was

The week starting on September 7 remained highly volatile for markets with a mix of global uncertainty, rising oil prices and expectations of interest rates hike by US Federal Reserve, while corporate India saw several important developments. Here are few top stories from this week -
US-Iran Conflict
Tensions between US and Iran escalated again this week following a brief pause as US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the American forces attacked five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island. Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles at a US base in Jordan and targeted multiple commercial and military vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil Prices Cross $100
Oil prices rose over $100 a barrel this week, for the first time in nearly four months, even  hitting $109 before retreating on Friday. Crude prices are track for a weekly gain of around 8% to 9%.  Following this surge, benchmark indices such as Sensex and Nifty fell, posting consecutive sessions of losses, while Wall Street and Asian markets also declined. 

Modi-Putin Talks

Ahead of BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, September 11. PM Modi raised the issue of  the safety of Indian seafarers in the Black Sea, and emphasised India's support for any peace initiative to end the Ukraine conflict as both leaders agreed boost bilateral trade ties amid ongoing geopoltical uncertainties.

ALSO READ: SEBI To Issue CAS Consultation Paper On Saturday; Derivative Settlement Price Methodology May See Tweak

NSE IPO Price Band
On Friday, September 11, National Stock Exchange (NSE) announced price band for its much awaited initial public offering (IPO). The public issue will open for subscription on September 17, paving the way for the bourse's listing and close on September 21. The bidding for anchor investors will take place on September 16. NSE IPO price band has been set at Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,785 per share, according to the red herring prospectus (RHP). The IPO lot size is 8 shares, and the minimum investment amount required by a retail investor is Rs 14,280.

US Inflation Data
The US consumer price index rose by more than expected last month, strengtehning the case for Federal Reserve officials to raise interest rates next week. The consumer price index, excluding food and energy, advanced 0.3% in August from a month earlier, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released on Friday. According to Bloomberg median estimate, 0.2% increase was estimated. 
 

Global Fintech Fest 

The Global Fintech Fest (GFF), annual gathering focused fintech and the wider financial services ecosystem, with participation from more than 80 countries was conducted from September 8 to September 11, 2026. PM Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey were some of the notable speakers at the event.

ALSO READ: NSE IPO: No Application Filed With SEBI To Trade Own Shares On NSE, Says MD

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Rani Mukerji Awarded For Her Contribution To Cinema, Speaks In Marathi

Over the years, actor Rani Mukerji has taken on a wide range of roles and delivered each of them with sincerity. The Chalte Chalte star has been honoured with the Raj Kapoor Special Contribution Award for her contribution to cinema. The recognition came as Rani completed three decades in the film industry. The 62nd Maharashtra State Film Awards ceremony was held in Mumbai, bringing together several noted names from the Marathi and Hindi film industries. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar honoured the award winners at the ceremony.

Dressed in a gorgeous green sari with a broad red border, Rani stole the spotlight. She paired the traditional look with green bangles, a mangalsutra and a gajra, completing the elegant ensemble.

Rani's words after receiving the award struck a chord with the audience. The actor spoke in Marathi and opened up about what made the recognition particularly special for her.

“Namaskar, for me, Maharashtra is not just a state. Maharashtra is my birthplace and it is also my workplace. This is an inseparable part of my life. I was born in this very city and grew up here. This is our very own Mumbai, the city of dreams. It was here that I learned the lessons of life, and it was also this city that taught me about cinema.”

The Black actor also mentioned that she has experienced everything here, both success and failure. And that's why today's honour is special to her. “Because I have received this honour from my own people. I took my first step into this industry at a very young age. At that time, I did not have anyone's support. I simply continued doing all my work with all my heart. For me, cinema is a medium through which we understand people,” Rani added.

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Devendra Fadnavis, while speaking at the ceremony, highlighted the importance of Marathi cinema and theatre. He said that the state government was preparing an action plan to make more cinema halls available for Marathi films.

Rani ended her speech by reiterating her connection with Mumbai and Maharashtra.

“Earlier I was a little girl, then I became an actress, a wife and now a mother. This city has given me so much and has given me the belief that one should never give up in life. I dedicate this award to all the people of Maharashtra, artists, technicians, directors and our film industry. 

“This award will always have a special place in my heart. Because whenever I look at this award, I will always remember my Mumbai and my Maharashtra. Please continue to shower me with your love and blessings. Thank you so much! Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra!”

Salim Khan, Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar and Prasad Oak were also honoured at the event.

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Robinson Creates History, Achieves Remarkable Test Bowling Feat Against Pak

England pacer Ollie Robinson has emerged as the standout figure in Test bowling, boasting the best bowling average among bowlers with 100-plus wickets since the First World War, with an impressive mark of 19.10. He has also reached the 100-wicket milestone in just 24 Tests, making him the joint-fifth-fastest English bowler to achieve the feat since World War II, joining legends Ian Botham, Derek Underwood, Steve Harmison, Graeme Swann and Tony Lock. Robinson achieved the feat during England's third Test against Pakistan in Birmingham on Wednesday. The pacer now has 102 wickets at an exceptional average of 19.10 in 24 Tests, including five five-wicket hauls.

Problems off the field have been compounded by struggles on it, with Pakistan's torrid run in red-ball cricket extending into the third Test. After Babar Azam lost the toss, England captain Joe Root had no hesitation in asking Pakistan to bat first.

Pakistan endured a disastrous start, with their early struggles coming against the backdrop of off-field turmoil that had prompted sweeping changes to the side, including the introduction of three debutants.

England's pace attack maintained complete control over a struggling Pakistan side at lunch on the opening day of the third and final Test at Edgbaston.

Josh Tongue returned impressive figures of 3/23, while opening duo Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer claimed two wickets apiece.

Robinson once again showcased the frugality that has defined his summer, finishing with figures of 2/9 from eight overs as Pakistan limped to 100/7 at lunch.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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