Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju‘s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit emerges as the Onam 2026 winner at the Malayalam box office, defeating Prithviraj Sukumaran‘s Khalifa: The Ruler comfortably. Khalifa and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit clashed this festive weekend, with the former receiving unanimous positive reviews.
Box Office Performance Comparison
| Film | Day 1 Gross | Day 2 Gross | 2-Day Total | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem Kudumba Unit | ₹4.69 Cr | Strong advances* | – | Growing |
| Khalifa: The Ruler | ₹5.31 Cr | ₹2.33 Cr (-56.1%) | ₹7.64 Cr | Declining |
*Day 2 advances already double of Day 1
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is showing strong growth in collections show by show, while Day 2 advances are already double that of Day 1. The film is set for a very big Day 2 and heading towards blockbuster status.
In contrast, Khalifa: The Ruler‘s 2-day all-India tracked gross stands at ₹7.64 Cr, with Day 2 witnessing a massive 56.1% drop from the opening day. Day 3 advances are not looking promising either, indicating further weakness ahead. The film is heading towards a big failure at the box office.
Khalifa: The Ruler is a high-octane action-crime thriller, while Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is a lighthearted, feel-good film that has clearly won Malayalam audiences’ hearts this Onam.
