title: "Patriot (2026) Review: Mammootty and Mohanlal's Reunion Is Worth Every Bit of the Wait"
slug: "patriot-malayalam-movie-review"
metaTitle: "Patriot Review: Mammootty & Mohanlal's Tech Thriller Explained | Movie OTT"
metaDescription: "Patriot review: Mahesh Narayanan's Malayalam tech thriller stars Mammootty and Mohanlal in their first screen reunion in two decades. Here's what works, what doesn't, and where to watch it."
keywords:
- patriot review
- patriot ott
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- mammootty mohanlal patriot
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language: "Malayalam"
targetVolume: "patriot review"
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category: "malayalam-cinema"
author: "Movie OTT Editorial"
status: draft
verifyBeforePublishing:
- "Confirm exact theatrical release date (research confirms May 1, 2026 publication of review; article mentions blockbuster opening but no specific date is given — [VERIFY] exact release date)"
- "Confirm Nayanthara's character name and role specifics — research lists her in the cast but does not describe her role"
- "Confirm Rajiv Menon's character name and role — listed in cast but not described"
- "Confirm runtime — not mentioned in research material"
- "Confirm box office figures — research mentions strong opening and 248+ additional night shows on Day 2, 365+ late-night shows on Day 1, but no gross figures are provided"
- "Confirm whether 'Shakti Sundaram' is a character name or a descriptive phrase — research material uses it as a character name in context, treated as proper noun here"
- "Confirm Colonel Raheem Naik spelling — transliterated from Malayalam source"
- "Confirm ZEE5 streaming start date — research headline states June 5 but this needs editorial confirmation"
Patriot Review: Mammootty and Mohanlal Finally Share the Screen Again — and Mahesh Narayanan Makes It Count
Patriot is a Malayalam tech thriller directed by Mahesh Narayanan that reunites Mammootty and Mohanlal for the first time in roughly two decades, and it's powered by a genuinely unsettling premise: a spy software that can invade any private device and destroy any life it touches. This isn't a mass action spectacle built around two legends trading punches — it's smarter, colder, and more relevant than that.
The Premise Hits Close to Home
Think about the last time you bought a phone. You probably thought about the price, the camera, maybe the battery life. You almost certainly didn't think about whether the device was quietly watching you back.
That's exactly the anxiety Patriot weaponizes. Mahesh Narayanan — who wrote and directed the film — builds his story around Periscope, a spy software product developed by a company called Shakti Solutions. The real villains here aren't men with guns. They're lines of code and the people who sell them to the highest bidder.
Mammootty plays Dr. Daniel James, a former DRW (Defence Research Wing) [VERIFY] officer turned whistleblower who runs a YouTube channel called Vimathan (meaning "rebel" or "dissident") to expose a Union minister named J.P. Sundaram and his alleged illegal dealings. It's a sharp, contemporary character setup — the kind of person who actually exists in 2026, using the exact platforms we all use, which makes the surveillance threat feel less like a movie plot and more like a warning.
Mohanlal arrives as Colonel Raheem Naik, a former military man whose path crosses Daniel's in ways the film takes its time revealing. Honestly, the scenes these two share are worth the price of admission alone — not because they're doing anything operatic, but because Narayanan is disciplined enough not to turn every joint moment into a showreel. The friendship and fighting spirit between Daniel and Raheem, as the Mathrubhumi review put it, is "a sight to behold."
A Tech Thriller, Not a Mass Action Film
What's striking is how deliberately Narayanan resists the obvious temptation. You have two of Malayalam cinema's biggest stars. You could have built wall-to-wall action sequences, a blockbuster that runs purely on star power and crowd-pleasing moments. He doesn't do that.
Instead, the film layers its characters one on top of another — each new arrival adding pressure rather than spectacle. Kunchacko Boban plays Michael Devassy, an IT expert whose role in the story turns out to be more than peripheral. Fahadh Faasil plays Shakti, the IT company owner — and if you know Fahadh's track record with morally ambiguous, quietly menacing characters, you'll know exactly why this casting works.
The supporting ensemble includes Nayanthara, Revathi, Serin Shihab, Indrans, and Geeti Sangeetha, all of whom the Mathrubhumi review notes have "clear roles in the narrative" — which is more than you can say for a lot of multi-starrers that stuff the frame with names and then forget what to do with them.
The thing nobody mentions enough about films like this: the technical crew. Cinematographer Manush Nandan and composer Sushin Shyam do work that fits the story's cold, digital paranoia rather than fighting against it. The action choreography — handled by a team including Dileep Subbarayan, Stunt Silva, Mafia Sasi, Riyas Habeeb, and Mahesh Mathew — is calibrated to the film's tone rather than designed to go viral.
What the Film Gets Right
Spy software that infiltrates civilian devices isn't science fiction. It's a documented, real-world threat — and Narayanan reportedly shoots those sequences in a way that generates genuine unease. Not horror-movie unease. The quieter, more lasting kind.
The film's structure — stacking events rather than stacking action sequences — means the payoff arrives through plot rather than through choreography. That's a risk in a multi-starrer. It pays off.
A Few Things Worth Noting
The film opened to what Mathrubhumi described as a "mega opening," with over 365 late-night shows on Day 1 and 248+ additional night shows added on Day 2 — which suggests the theatrical response was strong. [VERIFY exact box office figures before publishing.]
Mammootty himself told press that the film's subject has "contemporary relevance" and that audiences shouldn't let others' opinions decide whether they watch it. That's not a defensive quote — it reads more like a filmmaker's confidence channeled through his lead actor.
Cast & Crew
| Role | Name | |---|---| | Director & Writer | Mahesh Narayanan | | Dr. Daniel James | Mammootty | | Colonel Raheem Naik | Mohanlal | | Michael Devassy | Kunchacko Boban | | Shakti | Fahadh Faasil | | Supporting Cast | Nayanthara, Revathi, Serin Shihab, Indrans, Geeti Sangeetha, Rajiv Menon | | Cinematography | Manush Nandan | | Background Score | Sushin Shyam | | Action Choreography | Dileep Subbarayan, Stunt Silva, Mafia Sasi, Riyas Habeeb, Mahesh Mathew |
Language: Malayalam Runtime: [VERIFY] Theatrical Release: [VERIFY exact date — review published May 1, 2026]
Where to Watch Patriot
| Platform | Availability | Region | |---|---|---| | ZEE5 | From June 5, 2026 [VERIFY] | India | | Theatrical | Released 2026 [VERIFY exact date] | India |
FAQ
Is Patriot available on OTT?
Yes. Patriot is streaming on ZEE5 from June 5, 2026 [VERIFY]. It was the film's first OTT platform after its theatrical run.
What is Patriot about?
Patriot follows Dr. Daniel James, a former intelligence officer turned whistleblower, who uncovers the dangerous reach of a spy software called Periscope — developed by a tech company called Shakti Solutions. The film tracks how this software connects to political corruption and puts ordinary people's privacy at risk.
Who are the main stars in Patriot?
The film stars Mammootty and Mohanlal in their first screen pairing in approximately two decades. Kunchacko Boban and Fahadh Faasil play pivotal supporting roles, alongside Nayanthara, Revathi, and Indrans.
Who directed Patriot?
Mahesh Narayanan wrote and directed Patriot. He's known for tightly constructed Malayalam thrillers — and this film continues that pattern.
Is Patriot a mass action film?
Not exactly. It's been described more accurately as a tech thriller than a mass action film. The focus is on digital surveillance, political corruption, and whistleblowing — the action sequences serve the story rather than defining it.
How was Patriot received at the box office?
The film opened to a strong response, with over 365 late-night shows on its first day and 248+ additional shows added on Day 2. Specific box office gross figures are [VERIFY].
If You Liked Patriot, Watch These
- Take Off — Mahesh Narayanan's earlier Malayalam thriller, built on similar tonal restraint
- C U Soon — another Mahesh Narayanan film that weaponizes screen-based storytelling
- Malik — Fahadh Faasil in a politically charged Malayalam epic
- Lucifer — Mohanlal in a different kind of multi-starrer, for contrast
Patriot is rated [VERIFY] and is currently streaming on ZEE5. Runtime: [VERIFY]. Language: Malayalam with subtitles available.
