Patriot (2026) Review: A Starry Spy Thriller With Big Ideas

This Patriot review covers Mahesh Narayanan's 2026 Malayalam-language spy thriller, a big-canvas film built around surveillance, secrecy and political power. It brings together Mammootty, Mohanlal, Kunchacko Boban and Fahadh Faasil, which alone makes it one of the year's most talked-about Indian releases. Here is how it holds up.

Patriot Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Patriot plot starts with undercover agents who stumble onto a surveillance conspiracy. What looks like a contained operation soon turns into a national security emergency. The agents must dismantle the network before it can silence political opposition.

That setup gives the film a timely, uneasy edge. Instead of a simple good-versus-evil chase, it asks who gets watched, who does the watching and what "security" really protects. Mahesh Narayanan also wrote the script, so the ideas and the execution come from one hand.

The film is released as an action drama, though other sites also tag it with thriller and mystery elements. If you like spy stories where trust is the real currency, you are in the right territory. For more of the same energy, browse our action movie reviews.

What Works in Patriot

The central idea is the film's strongest card. Reviewers have called the plot strong and the ideas compelling, and the subject of mass surveillance feels current rather than recycled. One critic described the film as brave, current and often suspenseful.

Visuals and background music

The look and sound also earn praise. District's review highlights impressive visuals and background music, which help the tension build in scenes that rely on silence, glances and paperwork as much as gunfire.

Ambition

This is not a safe film. It aims for scale, and it takes its politics seriously. Even when it overreaches, that ambition keeps it interesting, and it has been a commercial success too: Wikipedia lists it as the fifth highest grossing Malayalam-language film, with a reported gross of ₹80 crore.

Patriot Cast and Performances

The Patriot cast is the main reason many viewers will buy a ticket. Mammootty plays Dr. Daniel James, and Mohanlal plays Col. Rahim Naik. Seeing two giants of Malayalam cinema share a story gives the drama real weight.

Kunchacko Boban appears as Michael Devassy, and Fahadh Faasil plays Shakti. Both are dependable screen presences, and a cast this deep means even smaller scenes carry authority. Nayanthara is also reported to be involved, but her role is not confirmed in the material I could verify, so I will not guess.

The real draw is how the leads handle restraint. A spy story like this lives on measured conversations and quiet pressure, and that suits actors with this much screen history.

Where Patriot Stumbles

Critical reception has been mixed, according to Wikipedia. The most pointed criticism comes from an Economic Times review quoted on Rotten Tomatoes. It says the film lacks the clarity, thoroughness, consistent pace and cultural rootedness of the director's earlier work.

That matches a common risk with sprawling conspiracy thrillers. When many characters and agendas compete, the narrative can lose focus, and the pace can sag between big moments. Viewers expecting the tighter, more intimate feel of Narayanan's earlier films may find this one looser and more broadly pitched.

The running time is also long. Sources disagree on the exact figure, with most listing about three hours, so expect a commitment.

Is Patriot Worth Watching?

Yes, Patriot is worth watching if you enjoy political thrillers and star-driven Indian cinema, as long as you accept some uneven pacing. The premise is sharp, the cast is exceptional and the presentation is polished.

It is not a flawless film, and the mixed reviews are fair. But the ideas stay with you, and the ensemble keeps even the slower stretches watchable. Fans of Mahesh Narayanan should go in expecting a broader, more commercial swing than usual.

If you want a different kind of action story afterwards, try our Heart of the Beast review. You can also explore our drama movie reviews for character-led picks. Release details and cast listings are on IMDb.

Who Will Enjoy Patriot

• Fans of Mammootty, Mohanlal and Fahadh Faasil who want to see them in one film.

• Viewers who like slow-building spy thrillers about surveillance and political power.

• Audiences who enjoy long, ambitious Indian dramas and can forgive some uneven pacing.