Patriot Review: Mahesh Narayanan’s Thoughtful Thriller That Chooses Substance Over Star Spectacle

I went into Patriot expecting a star-heavy, high-voltage ride, but what I experienced instead was a restrained, idea-driven film that quietly pulls you into its world.

Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, the film doesn’t chase constant highs or exaggerated heroism. Instead, it stays rooted in its central theme—privacy, surveillance, and the dangerous overlap between technology and power.

Spoiler Alert:

One of the first things that stood out to me was how subtly Mammootty is introduced. There’s no dramatic elevation or build-up, and that decision sets the tone for the entire film.

As Dr Daniel, Mammootty delivers a performance that is calm, controlled, and deeply convincing. He doesn’t rely on loud moments to establish his presence, yet he holds the film together with ease.

Even then, the interval block reminds us of his star power—the only proper mass moment in the film, and it works exceptionally well. I honestly wished there were a few more such moments.

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The story taps into something very real, drawing clear parallels to controversies like Pegasus spyware and others.

The way the film explores how spyware can influence not just individuals but even ministers and governments is genuinely unsettling. There’s a powerful stretch where the narrative touches on data exploitation through student laptops, how something as simple as a welfare scheme can turn into a tool for surveillance.

Those portions stayed with me.

Fahadh Faasil as Shakti Sundaram starts off strong, bringing a sharp and intelligent menace to the screen. But somewhere after the first half, his character loses a bit of that intimidation factor, and the overall tension dips slightly. That’s where the film could have been tighter, as the second half doesn’t sustain the same grip as the first.

The inclusion of Mohanlal (Colonel Rahim Naik) is special, even though his role is brief. In fact, that short presence is what makes it more effective; it never feels forced or overdone.

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Mahesh Narayanan deserves credit here for not overindulging just because he has two legends in the same film. He keeps the focus firmly on the story and its message, allowing their moments together to feel organic and meaningful, and that’s the beauty of the film.

The sequence where Mohanlal’s character escapes an ambush at his house is easily one of the film’s best, smart, tense, and brilliantly executed. At the same time, I couldn’t help but feel that his character had the potential for more.

There’s a particular dialogue from Daniel that really stayed with me: he says that now he has left the country, he feels peaceful—but the issue was never about a nation; it was always about a handful of people controlling everything.

That line perfectly captures the film’s core idea. It’s not pointing fingers at systems alone, but at the individuals who manipulate them.

The supporting cast, including Nayanthara, Darshana Rajendran, Kunchacko Boban, and Zarin Shihab, all play their parts well. Nayanthara’s role has emotional depth, though I felt it could have been explored further. Kunchacko Boban brings sincerity, especially in the latter half, while Darshana’s portions add an important layer to the film’s theme.

Technically, the film is solid. The cinematography is neat and effective, capturing both the intimacy of conversations and the scale of its tension. The background score supports the narrative well, giving certain moments a quiet sense of urgency.

However, I did feel that several action sequences lacked the punch they deserved—they felt a bit flat, especially considering the stakes.

Another thing I noticed is that Patriot doesn’t try to be a full-on mass entertainer. It works more as an espionage thriller, and while that’s refreshing, it also means the film misses out on strong elevation moments that could have made it more engaging for a wider audience.

The pacing, especially in the second half, could have been tighter, as the tension dips in parts.

But I appreciate the film for what it tries to do. It’s not just telling a story, it’s starting a conversation. About how our data is constantly being watched, how our online behaviour is tracked, and how power can quietly control narratives without us even realising it.

Timeline Verdict:

A relevant and thoughtfully made espionage thriller that works more in its ideas than its execution.

Rating:3.5/5

Cast

• Mammootty
• Mohanlal
• Fahadh Faasil
• Kunchacko Boban
• Zarin Shihab
• Nayanthara
• Revathi
• Darshana Rajendran
• Rajiv Menon

Crew

• Director & Writer: Mahesh Narayanan
• Producers: Anto Joseph, K. G. Anil Kumar
• Cinematography: Manush Nandan
• Editing: Mahesh Narayanan, Rahul Radhakrishnan
• Music: Sushin Shyam