Sarvam Maya wasn’t just another film; it marked Nivin Pauly’s comeback after a tough phase in a genre which is his forte. Now, Nivin Pauly returns with Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, which is slated to be another rom-com alongside Mamitha Baiju, who is having the time of her life with frequent releases and has been receiving critical acclaim for her performances lately. Helmed by Girish A.D who is coming off a smash hit like Premalu, how does this film fare?
The story kicks off with Ashley (Mamitha Baiju) returning to Kerala after studying in Ireland for a wedding, before going back 2 years, when she moved from Mundakkayam to Angamaly, met Justin (Nivin Pauly) and fell in love with him. The rest of the story recounts the events that lead to their relationship.
With Premalu, Girish A.D revived a genre in Malayalam Cinema which had not been seeing as much success as it did many years back. Now, he crafts another winner in that rom-com genre, this time while utilising the full skill of Nivin Pauly, the man who made this genre his forte. With the help of his co-writer, Kiran Josey, he writes a screenplay which is laced with laugh-out-loud moments and captures the relationship dynamic between Ashley and Justin as well as the emotional beats. The film stays engaging throughout, making you laugh at regular intervals while also capturing the character arcs of Justin, Ashley and the supporting characters well.
The film is anchored by its lead characters, played by Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, both of whom deliver top showings. Nivin Pauly, in a genre he owns like few others, shows why the rom-com is his forte. As Justin, he portrays that next-door neighbour with effortless grace, reminding us of the times of Neram, Premam, Ohm Shanthi Oshaana and Bangalore Days. Mamitha Baiju, who’s on a hot streak, continues that with yet another sublime performance. Portraying Ashley, she nails the emotional character arc of a next-door girl who falls for an older man. The supporting cast of Sangeeth Prathap, Shyam Mohan, and Roshan Shanavas and Suresh Krishna also shine brightly, providing impeccable comic relief with their timing.
Akash Joseph Varghese does a stupendous job with the editing of the film. The edit is crisp throughout, and that 8-second edit in the climax is the moment of the entire film. Vishnu Vijay does a good job with the music, composing songs which blend seamlessly into the narrative and some of which are worth re-listening to. The background score also does the trick in capturing every beat of the film
All in all, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is the winner of this Onam season of releases. A Girish A.D.-style rom-com that makes you laugh and stays with you, exploring the strengths of Nivin Pauly, who delivers yet another stellar performance in a genre he can now consider his own. A very good theatrical watch with good rewatch value, which works best for family audiences.
Rating: 4.5/5
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