Patriot review: Mammootty is unstoppable, Mohanlal-Fahadh Faasil boosts espionage drama
Patriot movie review: Director Mahesh Narayanan’s Patriot, starring Mammootty, Mohanlal and Fahadh Faasil, is a surveillance thriller that highlights the dangers of spyware installed in citizens’ tech devices. With intelligent writing and a grounded approach, this is spy cinema done right – minor flaws and all.
What guarantees a spy thriller in 2026? Pan-India ambition, massive scale and even bigger stars? This is the goal of most directors. But Mahesh Narayanan does the unimaginable with Patriot – a quite fascinating intelligence process involving the Big M of Malayalam cinema and most of the popular faces from the industry. He keeps it grounded, driving the story rather than stardom or pan-India ambitions.
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The film begins with Dr. Daniel James (Mammootty), a scientific analyst who works for the government agency DRW. A false case prompts him to quit his job and move to London, where he runs a YouTube channel called Vimathan – meaning dissident – through which he exposes how citizens are being monitored through their laptops and phones.
In an attempt to expose a surveillance app owned by Shakti Corporation, headed by Shakti Sundaram (Fahadh Faasil), which is being secretly installed on citizens’ devices, Daniel is framed for espionage. The case draws him back, and what follows is his attempt to uncover a government conspiracy aided by several members of the Indian armed forces that threatens national security.
Clocking in at three hours, Mahesh Narayanan manages to grab your attention from the first frame. We are introduced to several subplots, involving Fahadh Faasil’s Shakthi Sundaram, Kunchacko Boban’s Michael DeVesy and DeVesy’s partner Jyoti Kurian (Darshana Rajendran), a data analyst at Shakti Corporation who is very uncomfortable with how the software is being used. Narayanan doesn’t rush it – every character gets a background, and that depth comes in handy in an entertaining interlude.
What makes the Patriot interesting is its focus on character over scale. As the story travels across countries and continents, you travel with it. The film is also deliberately constructed – you need to pay attention to its intricacies, and that’s a feature, not a flaw. At its core, Patriot is about data theft: not just the theft of personal information, but the weaponization of it against ordinary people through scams, manipulation, and worse. The film doesn’t shy away from exposing the collusion between corrupt politicians and the government – and its willingness to go there is one of its greatest strengths.
Mammootty has carried a lot of the weight of the film with ease, but he has got good support. Fahadh Faasil is quietly menacing as Sundaram, and Kunchacko Boban brings warmth to a crucial role. Mohanlal as Colonel Rahim Naik gets a limited but well-written part, and every minute of it counts. Revathi, Prakash Belawadi and Indrans each get their moments. Nayanthara, despite her stunning presence, is reduced to little more than a cameo – those coming specifically for her will be disappointed.
The Patriot is not without its flaws. There are parts that lose momentum before the film can pull you back in, and some action blocks lack the nuance the genre demands. However, two scenes stand out: Mammootty’s one plane fight and Mohanlal’s confrontation in a hospital, both deserve special mention.
This is not a film of heightened moments or high-concept spectacle. This is a grounded, methodical spy drama – and for those willing to meet it on those terms, it rewards patience.