I turned it on at 7 a.m. this morning and couldn't stop watching until the very last scene — zero pee and water breaks. That's how sweet this movie was.
Nivin Pauly's role as Justin, the older, gruff brother who gets involved in everyone's life issues and somehow finds a way to solve them, has been performed with such ease by the veteran actor. Mamitha Baiju, as Ashley, Justin's smitten, much younger yet ballsy secret girlfriend, has enacted her role superbly.
What a beautiful start to my long weekend.
My mood is light, my mind is inspired to write simple yet wholesome scripts like this, with just the right dash of family, drama and comedy thrown in together. Something like a comforting bowl of poha that you know can't hurt you on a weekend morning — or any morning, for that matter.
I could understand Justin's yearning as a grieving boyfriend who lost his fiancée many years ago. Like many people dealing with grief, he buried himself in work and built his local catering business quite successfully.
When the family opposes their relationship, he holds Ashley's hands and bids her farewell as she leaves for Ireland to pursue her higher studies.
Their reunion two years later, at Justin's younger brother's wedding, is shown so naturally that your heart can't help but experience a warm little tingle.
Yet another small story with a ginormous heart — that's another way to describe "Bethlehem Kudumba Unit".
I also couldn't help noticing how the men in the film pursue the women they love. In its own subtle way, the movie seems to say something rather lovely to women: you don't always have to chase. Leave some of that chasing to the man who truly loves you and wants to build a life with you. The right person will move heaven and earth to be with you, while also being secure enough to step aside and let you flourish.
Now that's true love. Not the other nonsensical song-and-dance involving a transparent saree under the rain.
I highly recommend watching "Bethlehem Kudumba Unit" for an instant mood lift.
It was as sweet as the moong dal halwa I eat once a week without a shred of guilt.
(Image sourced from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehem_Kudumba_Unit)
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