Our Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram
Malayalam cinema history was made on Friday as superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal shared the screen together after 13 years in director Mahesh Narayanan’s cyber thriller Patriot. The film, released on May 1, 2026, delivers strong performances but receives a mixed response.
Mammootty plays Dr. Daniel James, also known as Vimathan (Dissident), a former national scientific adviser turned vlogger exposing corrupt politician JP Sundaram (Rajiv Menon) and his son Shakti Sundaram (Fahadh Faasil). Mohanlal portrays Lt Rahim Malik, Daniel’s friend who gets pulled into the danger. The movie is set against themes of cyber security, political corruption, and national security, featuring spyware similar to Pegasus.
The film has a 180-minute runtime and features cinematography by Manush Nandan, directed by Mahesh Narayanan and editing by Rahul Radhakrishnan, and music by Sushin Shyam. Other cast members include Nayanthara as Daniel’s ex-wife Lathika, Kunchacko Boban, and Revathi.
Reviewers praise Mammootty and Mohanlal’s masterclass acting, noting they communicate “merely by movements rather than dialogues”. However, critics point out the first half is slow, the second half loses momentum, and Mohanlal has limited screen presence with fewer elevation scenes than expected.
Audience reactions are mixed – some call it a “blockbuster” and “one-time watch”, while others say it “lacks emotional depth” despite technical excellence. The film produced by Anto Joseph carries a reported budget of ₹125 crore.
Patriot marks a significant reunion but falls short of being a complete mass entertainer, standing more as an acting showcase than a gripping thriller.
