What does a spy thriller warrant in 2026? Pan-India ambition, big scale and even bigger stars? That’s mostly what most directors are aiming for. But Mahesh Narayanan does the unthinkable with Patriot — a largely engaging intelligence procedural featuring the Big M’s of Malayalam cinema and most of the industry’s popular faces. He keeps it grounded, letting the story lead rather than the stardom or pan-India ambition.
The film begins with Dr Daniel James (Mammootty), a scientific analyst who works for the government agency DRW. A false case pushes him to quit and fly to London, where he runs a YouTube channel called Vimathan — meaning dissident — through which he exposes how civilians are being monitored via their laptops and phones.
In an attempt to expose a surveillance app owned by Shakti Corporation — headed by Shakti Sundaram (Fahadh Faasil) — being secretly installed in civilians’ devices, Daniel gets framed for espionage. The case pulls him back in, and what follows is his attempt to unravel a government conspiracy that threatens national security, aided by several members of the Indian armed forces.
At three hours, Mahesh Narayanan manages to grab your attention from the first frame. We are introduced to multiple subplots involving Fahadh Faasil’s Shakti Sundaram, Kunchako Boban’s Michael Devassy, and Devassy’s partner Jyoti Kurien (Darshana Rajendran), a data analyst at Shakti Corporation who is deeply uncomfortable with how the software is being used for. Narayanan doesn’t rush any of it — every character gets a backstory, and that depth pays off in a gripping interval.
What makes Patriot interesting is its focus on character over scale. As the story travels across the country and continents, you travel with it. The film is also deliberately verbose — you need to pay attention to follow its intricacies, and that is a feature, not a flaw. At its core, Patriot is about data theft: not just the stealing of personal information, but its weaponisation against ordinary people through scams, manipulation and worse. The film doesn’t shy away from implicating corrupt politicians and government complicity — and that willingness to go there is one of its biggest strength.
Mammootty carries the film’s considerable weight with ease, but he is well supported. Fahadh Faasil is quietly menacing as Sundaram, and Kunchako Boban brings warmth to a pivotal role. Mohanlal, as Colonel Rahim Naik, gets a limited but well-written part, and makes every minute of it count. Revathi, Prakash Belawadi and Indrans each get their moments. Nayanthara, despite her marquee billing, is reduced to little more than a cameo — those coming specifically for her will be disappointed.
Patriot is not without its flaws. There are stretches that lose momentum before the film pulls you back in, and some of the action blocks lack the nuance the genre demands. Two sequences, however, are standouts: an aircraft fight featuring Mammootty and a hospital confrontation with Mohanlal that both deserve a special mention.
This is not a film of elevation moments or high-concept spectacle. It is a grounded, methodical spy drama — and for those willing to meet it on those terms, it rewards patience.
– Ends
