Bethlehem Kudumba Unit

Naturally, the film has its flaws, but as a feel-good romance, it is well made and a perfect Onam release. The climax lands well, allowing the audience to leave the theatre with a light heart.

However, the brilliance of director Girish AD and co-writer Kiran Josey — joining forces after Premalu(2024) — is that we never feel any creepiness in the movie. In fact, the maturity and clarity with which the subject has been handled is what, in my opinion, makes this romantic comedy absolutely heartwarming, endearing, and sweet.

The depiction of the age-gap relationship between Justin and Ashley could have easily gone wrong, if not for the delicate handling by the writers, ably supported by the actors. Not for a moment does it fall into an awkward space.

But despite all its great qualities, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit leaves you with a bitter aftertaste, simply by choosing to romanticise an age-gap relationship.

I never experienced this kind of warmth and joy from a film in a while.

There's beauty in simplicity, and director Girish AD swears by this. He cherry-picks simple, relatable stories and grounds them firmly with reasonable conflicts and well-etched characters.

The actor brings a quiet vulnerability to Justin, and he is unmatched in the scenes that demand his comic timing- thereby creating a beautiful portrait of a man who has to take control of his own life and choices.

Exceptional performances from the ensemble cast, coupled with strong technical elements like music and cinematography, contribute to the film's overall feel-good atmosphere and harmonious narrative