President Trump's influence is on trial in Indiana's Republican primaries. Seven state senators face Trump-backed challengers. Ohio's primaries will decide candidates for major U.S. Senate and governor races. Michigan voters will fill a state Senate vacancy in a bellwether district
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Discover radiant, youthful skin with these 7 anti-ageing face serums for womenThese 7 anti ageing face serums are your best bet when you want a radiant and youthful skin
AP POLYCET Result 2026: Where, how to check Polytechnic CET results when announced?AP POLYCET Result 2026 will be announced and will be available on the official website. The steps to check the results is given here. Published on: May 05, 2026 10:51 AM IST By HT Education Desk | Edited by Papri
The entire political landscape of Tamil Nadu has shifted overnight as Vijay’s TVK scripted a historic win in the state elections, and while the experts were busy with exit polls, Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has pointed to a much humbler source of truth: the village farmer and the airport security
C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has established its popularity and stands to emerge as the single largest party in the 2026 Tamil Nadu State Assembly elections. Clearly, voters decided to give up on the two Dravidian parties
For years, India's West Bengal state was the great exception to Narendra Modi's political advance. His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had swept through India's Hindi-speaking heartland, expanded into the west and north-east, and overwhelmed once-formidable regional rivals
Three Opposition chief ministers on Monday lost power as the Trinamool Congress was defeated by the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal, the Left Democratic Front by the Congress-led alliance in Kerala and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam by actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam
Real or illusion? Rare ‘rainbow clouds’ spotted in sky over Indonesia. WatchThe caption of the post shared on Monday read," Amazing! Rare “rainbow clouds” were spotted in the sky over Indonesia. Published on: May 05, 2026 10:16 AM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link Rare
Patriot’ movie review
‘Patriot’ movie review: Mohanlal-Mammootty film is engaging and brave despite its predictability
An almost archaic communication method takes center stage when the characters played by Mammootty and Mohanlal first make contact in Mahesh Narayanan’s Patriot, well into the film’s second half. It would seem apt in a way, hinting at the vintage quality of their association while also fitting well inside the theme of the film on digital mass surveillance. For that matter, the last time the duo came together in a film, almost two decades ago, digital surveillance was just an emerging public concern.
Now, it seems rather ubiquitous, and Mahesh Narayanan appears fully taken in by the urgency to convey these fears to a larger audience. The two superstars are thus tools for this socio-political endeavour rather than the screenplay being in service of their star aura, as often seen in such star-studded movies.
Daniel James (Mammootty), a top-level employee in a Union government ministry, gets a hint of a nefarious surveillance system involving minister J.P.Sundaram (Rajiv Menon), and his corporate honcho son Shakthi (Fahadh Faasil). He is forced to go on the run to protect himself and uncover the truth.
As far as the story goes, things are straightforward enough to draw a rough outline from the film’s trailer, yet Patriot has enough to keep one engaged for a good part.
Rather than painting the issue of surveillance in broad strokes, the screenplay breaks it down as digestible pieces peppered all over the narrative, from a mock phone review in Daniel’s vlog to characters on the run avoiding highway toll gates to avoid being tracked, and a depiction of the way in which a universal identity card can turn into a civilian surveillance tool.
Some of it might seem basic for a tech-savvy audience, but for the film’s reach, this treatment was quite apt. In the middle of it all, Patriot also questions those who proudly say they have nothing to hide, while slyly supporting government surveillance. The current context and the neat stepping away from these issues in most film industries make this a brave film, although the narrative has a predictable air about it..
With the film mostly staying true to its theme, diehard fans looking for high moments might leave the theatre without their expectations from such a rare coming together fully satisfied, except for a car chase scene involving both the stars and an escape sequence. Even the chase sequence ends tamely, leaving one with the feeling that more could have been done with it. There is less scope for banter between the two thanks to the serious episodes.
The minimal screen time for actors like Revathi and Nayanthara comes across as a major disappointment, while Zarin Shihab and Darshana Rajendran get a better deal. Even Mohanlal plays an extended cameo with an abrupt end. Kunchacko Boban and Fahadh Faasil have solid roles. Mammootty gets a character that literally carries the film. Rajiv Menon’s presence is not just a call back to ‘Harikrishnans’. He embodies the inherent evilness of that character.
The last act seemed a bit rushed and followed familiar templates, unlike the nuanced takes in the earlier part of the film. It does not spring any major surprises, except for a bit of history involving the antagonist and his politician father. High production values have been the trademark of Mahesh Narayanan’s films, and in Patriot, he ups his as well as Malayalam cinema’s game. Sushin Syam’s understated score fits well with the film’s theme.
Despite its predictable narrative, Patriot is an engaging and even brave film on a pertinent issue. It is not often that a questioning “dissident” gets the central role in an Indian film these days.
Published - May 01, 2026 05:44 pm IST
Malayalam cinema
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: Patriot’ title teaser Jason Aldean debuts new single at Patriot Awards Nayanthara’s look out from Mammootty–Mohanlal starrer ‘Patriot’ Mammootty says Patriot is not a ‘pan-India’ film Patriot Twitter reviews Members of the Problematic Family’ movie review Masthishka Maranam’ movie review Revolver Rita’ movie review Gustaakh Ishq’ movie review Left-Handed Girl’ movie review
Dianna Russini's marriage might hit ‘breaking point’ amid Mike Vrabel scandal; insider shares NFL reporter's ‘struggles’Dianna Russini is facing major personal and career struggles after controversy involving Mike Vrabel. Published on: May 05
1 minutes ago
The impact of rising temperatures is increasingly being seen in women’s health. Dr. Archana Dhawan Bajaj, a gynaecologist and IVF expert, Nurture IVF Clinic, notes that heat stress can directly affect hormonal balance. “During extreme heat conditions
1 minutes ago
A Boeing 737 plane that plummeted into a Chinese hillside in 2022, killing all 132 people on board, had its fuel supply cut mid-flight, according to newly released data by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Findings by the NTSB say that the fuel switches on both engines of the
1 minutes ago
Lauren Sanchez Bezos lost 2 pounds before Met Gala 2026 with her ‘most unique prep ever’ for fitted Schiaparelli gownLauren Sánchez Bezos swapped celebrity wellness routines for intense firefighter training before turning heads in Schiaparelli at Met Gala 2026. Published on: May 05
1 minutes ago
Charmme Kaur calls Trisha Krishnan ‘lucky mascot’ for Vijay's TVK victory: ‘Special celebrations on your special day’Trisha received wishes from friends, with Charmme Kaur referring to her as a 'lucky mascot' for Vijay's political success. May 5, 2026
1 minutes ago
May 5, Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for youIf your birthday falls on May 05, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Published on: May 05, 2026 11:00 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on May 5
1 minutes ago
Writers far from what they deserve in cinema: scriptwriter Jyoti KapoorWriters far from what they deserve in cinema: scriptwriter Jyoti Kapoor May 5, 2026, 11:04:16 IST PTI Share via Copy link Mumbai, Due credit, fair compensation and a wish that their work does not get stolen
1 minutes ago
Amid ongoing rumours linking Vijay and Trisha Krishnan, an Instagram post shared by Charmme Kaur is going viral. Trisha, who celebrated her birthday on May 4, got a lovely wish from her friend Charmme, who referred to Trisha as a ‘lucky mascot’
1 minutes ago
Duolingo posted strong first-quarter results but signaled a more measured growth trajectory ahead, as the language-learning app prioritises user engagement and product improvements over near-term monetisation. Assembly Elections 2026 Shares of the Pittsburgh-based company slumped 11% in
1 minutes ago
Bharat Taxi will be the official mobility partner for Delhi Capitals in the 2026 IPL season. The ride-hailing firm will manage on-ground and digital campaigns. Dedicated travel support will be provided for fans attending matches in Delhi NCR
1 minutes ago
Bollywood actress Ameesha Patel shared a terrifying update on Monday night, revealing that her flight from New York to Mumbai was unexpectedly diverted mid-journey. She revealed that her Emirates flight was moments away from landing in Dubai when authorities abruptly closed UAE airspace following
1 minutes ago
A blast at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed 21 people and left 61 wounded, according to state media. The explosion at the Huasheng Fireworks plant happened at around 16:40 local time (08:40 GMT) on Monday, in the city of Liuyang
1 minutes ago
Dream Sports, the parent company of Dream11, has entered into the stockbroking space with the launch of DreamStreet as it looks to diversify beyond sports entertainment and tap into the country's growing retail investor base. In a statement on Monday
1 minutes ago
Three Indians were injured on Monday in a fire caused by a drone attack at an industrial area in Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, amid renewed tensions in West Asia, PTI reported. India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday described the attack as “unacceptable” and called for an
1 minutes ago
‘Dynastic politics, no connect with youth led to DMK’s loss’The DMK, which along with its allies, had swept the Lok Sabha polls two summers ago, lost the assembly polls to debutant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Published on: May 05, 2026 11:06 AM IST By S Vijay Karthik
1 minutes ago
Canada launches pilot project to monitor exit of temporary residents with expired visasThis will be applicable to visitors and temporary workers along with international students. This will be the first time that the Canadian government is looking at implementing an entry-exit system Published on:
1 minutes ago
A new superstar of snooker. Another Chinese world champion. A year earlier, it had been Zhao Xintong lifting the trophy and creating history for his country. On Monday, it was Wu Yize - who had defeated Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a compelling final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield
1 minutes ago
Met Gala 2026 was full of A-listers from across the world who looked their best for fashion's biggest night. Following this year's 'Fashion is Art' dress code, celebrities proved why they belong on the red carpet with couture looks setting fashion trends
1 minutes ago
TNEA Exam 2026: If you have a low JEE Main score, pursuing a B.Tech can still be a good option. Tamil Nadu has several top engineering colleges, where admission is through Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA). The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Technical Education (DoTE) has invited applications for
1 minutes ago
A prominent data protection group on Tuesday filed a complaint in Austria against LinkedIn over the professional networking platform's selling of user data. Assembly Elections 2026 Vienna-based Noyb -- which stands for "None of Your Business" -- said it filed a complaint with the Austrian Data
1 minutes ago
An almost archaic communication method takes center stage when the characters played by Mammootty and Mohanlal first make contact in Mahesh Narayanan’s Patriot, well into the film’s second half. It would seem apt in a way, hinting at the vintage quality of their association while also fitting
2 minutes ago
At least 21 people were killed and 61 others injured in a massive explosion at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province, officials said on Tuesday (May 5, 2026). The explosion occurred on Monday (May 4, 2026) afternoon at the plant operated by the Huasheng fireworks manufacturing and display
2 minutes ago
The 79th edition of the annual Cannes International Film Festival is all set to kick-start on May 12 at Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in the French Riviera. All eyes are set on this edition as it will see a bevy of Indian talents, with some marking their red carpet debuts. And Payal Kapadia
2 minutes ago
That’s playoff basketball at its core, and Game 1 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs delivered exactly that. Let’s be honest, most had written Minnesota off before the series even tipped off. But led by Anthony Edwards, the Wolves punched back with a blue-collar 104–102
2 minutes ago
Congress candidate Motab Shaikh, whose name was deleted from the electoral rolls during the special intensive revision and later restored by an appellate tribunal, won West Bengal’s Farakka Assembly on Monday. Shaikh defeated his nearest rival, Sudhir Chowdhuri of the Bharatiya Janata Party
2 minutes ago
The registration deadline for JEE Advanced 2026 session has been extended till May 5. Eligible students can register at jeeadv.ac.in. The registration window for JEE Advanced 2026 has been extended, giving aspirants a final opportunity to complete their applications
1 minutes ago
Experts suggest that a regime change could boost GDP by 0.5%. With West Bengal’s potential to become a $1 trillion economy and its strategic position as an industrial hub, the markets view this political shift favorably, anticipating positive economic impacts
1 minutes ago
