The coming together of Malayalam cinema’s two superstars, Mammootty and Mohanlal, after 18 years. A star-studded ensemble cast with names like Kunchacko Boban, Fahadh Faasil, Nayanthara, Darshana Rajendran, Revathi and Rajiv Menon. A highly decorated crew coming together for one of the expensive movies in Malayalam. Mahesh Narayanan’s Patriot had many things going for it and therefore expectations were high.

The spy thriller explores the dark side of digital surveillance, especially when it is used by corporates and those in power to monitor each movement of every citizen, to silence the voices of dissent. In this case, it is Periscope, which, hints at the controversies surrounding the use of foreign spyware on journalists, activists, politicians, etc. in India. Fighting against Periscope is a government servant, Daniel James (Mammootty), who is declared a dissident by the government. He turns whistleblower, operating from a foreign country through his YouTube channel, Vimathan. Lending him support is his long-time friend, Col Rahim Naik (Mohanlal), a war veteran who lost a leg in action.

A few days into its release, Mahesh, the director of critically-acclaimed movies such as Take Off, C U Soon, Ariyippu and Malik, is at the receiving end of bouquets and brickbats. While many have praised him for side-stepping fan service with his screenplay, technical finesse and grounded filmmaking, there is a group unhappy about Mohanlal being under utilised and an average second half, among other things. But Mahesh, the writer and one of the editors of the movie, sounds unperturbed when we catch up.

Excerpts from an interview:

How the story took shape

The idea developed from what has been happening around. There was the controversy surrounding the spyware, and I imagined a situation where that gets privatised. Then I brought in the issue of data privacy. We all know that the data we provide for various purposes gets misused. Be it the details we gave in writing at emigration offices at airports in the past or the ones given for digital processing in the current times. However, the movie is not anti-government or against the digitisation of services.

Real vs reel

This is the story of a man with dissent. I believe there is a value for dissent. There are numerous examples around us, like Saudi journalist Jamal Ahmad Hamza Khashoggi.

Several real-life incidents of dissidents being silenced inspired the narrative. Like the murders of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, and the Russian leader and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny. There was a thrill in bringing such a track in my script.

Bringing the Big Ms together

People are saying I became part of history by casting them together. That is a misunderstanding. This is my film and they came to act in my movie. It is not like I made a film because they wanted me to make one. They came on board because they have been following my work.

I finalise an actor only when the screenplay is ready; same with Patriot. I approached Mammookka because I felt he was apt for the role. He suggested Lal sir as Col Rahim. Lal sir said the role resonated with him and was hardly bothered about what happened to the character at the end. I believe it was the twist that irked many of his fans.

Lal sir said he loved the role since he had not done something like this. He knew that it was challenging to play an amputee. Also, it was a meaty role with its moments, unlike the run-of-the-mill cameo role where the actor ends up doing some buffoonery to please the fans.

They are not actors who always want to do slow-motion sequences! They knew that I was not using their aura. Even when there is action, it is rooted in the character.

Watching them perform

We started the shoot with Lal sir, and Mammookka joined two days later. Their first shot was the flashback scene where Mammookka helps Lal sir to fix his artificial limb. I didn’t think of it as special until my team pointed out. That was when I realised I have Mammootty and Mohanlal in the same frame in my movie.

It was nice to watch the ease with which they went about the shot. Many have asked whether I got a high when I saw them together. Not really. But their performance gave me a high. Like the scene where Lal sir helps Mammookka, who is unwell, sit on the bed. You can’t deny that there is an aura about both of them as they carry a scene.

They are actors who are submissive to the filmmaker since they know the purpose of the movie. Also, I didn’t have to make compromises as a filmmaker because of their star power. Nobody asked me to adapt the narrative for them. In fact, Lal sir specifically told me nothing extra for him! He understood the emotion the character entails.

Rajiv Menon, the antagonist

I have edited many of his ad films and so have known him for long. I have also watched him play the IAS officer in Vetri Maaran’s movie (Viduthalai: Part 2). That is why I approached him to play the corrupt politician, JP Sundaram.

Women in the narrative

There has been severe criticism about the shorter screen time of the women artistes [Revathy, Darshana, Nayanthara, Grace Antony]. I wanted these actors in the movie not for star value but because they are actors with immense potential. Also, their characters are integral to the narrative and each of them has a graph.

Although Revathy chechi had initially said no for the role since she preferred to do a full-length role in my film, she was in once she listened to the story. Nayanthara came in without the baggage of a superstar. From what I understand, she agreed for the part because she liked my craft.

Challenges along the way

We have shot it in locations that have not been shown in Malayalam cinema before. We must have covered over 140 locations, and it was not easy to coordinate. Sri Lanka was a major location. They also gave us a cargo plane to shoot a fight sequence and the fighter jet for the scene featuring Fahadh. The fictional country Faraha and its airport are actually Baku in Azerbaijan. London was another main location. Some scenes were shot in Sharjah, and the rest in different spots in India.

The proficient crew

This is the first Malayalam work of our cinematographer Manush Nandan, whose portfolio includes some of the big films in Bollywood [Thugs of Hindustan, Gunjan Saxena, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani, Dunki, Gustaak Ishq, etc.]. He was my batchmate at the film institute. As for music, Sushin [composer Sushin Shyam] has given a seamless soundscape for the movie.

On the whole, I would say nobody has done anything to show off their talent, be it the actors or the technicians.

Patriot is running in theatres

Published – May 05, 2026 11:00 pm IST

New Delhi:

Actor Mohanlal today praised the government for releasing the Justice Hema Committee report, which details allegations of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. The former Association of Malayalam Movie Actors (AMMA) president’s remarks come in the light of an avalanche of sexual assault and rape allegations against some of Mollywood’s biggest names, including veteran actor Siddique and filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan.

“We welcome the Hema Committee report. It was the right decision by the government to release that report. AMMA cannot answer all the questions. These questions should be asked from everyone. This is a very hardworking industry. Many people are involved in it. But everyone cannot be blamed for this. Those responsible will be punished, investigation is going on,” the actor said.

The 235-page report by Justice Hema Committee, published after redacting names of witnesses and the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by 10-15 male producers, directors, and actors.

Mohanlal said he was not part of any power group in the Malayalam film industry and he has no knowledge of the existence of any such group in the sector. He said Malayalam cinema is a huge industry where thousands of people work and the actor’s association AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) could not address issues that cropped up there.

This is the first time that Mohanlal has addressed the media since the release of the expert panel report.

“Wrongdoers should be punished if there is evidence against them,” the “Drishyam” actor said while referring to the allegations of sexual misconduct and assaults that surfaced against some of the members of the Association.

The 64-year-old resigned from his post at the AMMA earlier this month after the allegations surfaced, and was criticised by many for not staying in power and ensuring that the victims get justice.

Other members of the film body’s executive committee also submitted resignations as the #MeToo storm in the state grew stronger.

A statement from AMMA said the top decision-making body had taken “moral responsibility” and dissolved itself “in light of allegations made by some actors against some of the committee”.

Thiruvananthapuram:

Actor Mohanlal has resigned as President of the under-fire Association of Malayalam Movie Actors, or AMMA, following an avalanche of sexual assault and rape allegations against some of Mollywood’s biggest names, including veteran actor Siddique and filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan.

All members of the film body’s executive committee have also submitted resignations.

A statement from AMMA said the top decision-making body had taken “moral responsibility” and dissolved itself “in light of allegations made by some actors against some of the committee”.

An election to form a new committee will be held within two months, AMMA said.

Senior figures in the Malayalam film industry face sexual abuse complaints following the public release of the Justice Hema Committee report last week. The report – which includes multiple shocking stories of abuse – was submitted to the Kerala government in 2019 but then buried.

It was made public this month after clearing legal challenges from film industry members.

NDTV has spoken to several women who have complained against top Malayalam actors and filmmakers, including actor Baburaj, who was AMMA Joint Secretary before he too resigned.

READ | “Hoping For Justice…”: Young Kerala Actor Claims Rape By Actor Baburaj

A junior artiste told NDTV he raped her at his home in Ernakulam district in 2019, after inviting her there on the pretext of a role in one of his films. He has claimed the allegation is false, and meant to scupper his chances of succeeding fellow thespian Siddique as General Secretary of the film body.

READ | Malayalam Actor Siddique Files Complaint Over Sex Assault Claim

Siddique quit last week over another sexual assault claim. He has lodged a police complaint against his accuser, Revathy Sampath, who said she had been “sexually abused… physically and mentally”.

READ | “Hugged, Kissed Me”: Malayalam Actor To NDTV On Sexual Abuse

Another actor, Minu Muneer, has accused prominent actors M Mukesh and Jayasurya, as well as two others, of physically and verbally abusing her on the sets of a movie in 2013.

“I had a bitter experience while shooting… I went to the restroom and when I came out, Jayasurya hugged me and kissed me without my consent. I was shocked and I ran out,” she told NDTV.

Maniyanpilla Raju, one of those accused by Ms Muneer, has called for an investigation into the allegations, claiming multiple vested interests are behind the accusations.

READ | High-Profile Resignations, Political Fallout: What’s Going On In Mollywood

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, under severe scrutiny, announced a seven-member SIT to probe all sexual assault charges.

That has not, however, stopped the predictable avalanche of political attacks from the opposition BJP and the Congress-led United Democratic Front.

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