Malayalam Film Patriot Review: Beats Raja Shivaji & Ek Din

Three films, one big clash… but only one is winning the box office race. Can you guess which one?

Movie Details
Movie Name	Patriot
Release Date	01 May 2026
Lead cast	Mammootty and Mohanlal
Language	Malayalam
Dubbed Version	Tamil and Hindi
Genre	Spy, Action Thriller
Director	Mahesh Narayanan
Producer	Anto Joseph & K.G. Anil Kumar
Writer	Mahesh Narayanan
Music Composer	Sushin Shyam
Cinematography	Manush Nandan ISC
Editor	Mahesh Narayanan
Budget (approx.)	Rs 125 Crore
Budget	3.5/5

About Malayalam Film Patriot

The highly anticipated Malayalam film ‘Patriot’, featuring the complete reunion of veteran actors Mammootty and Mohanlal after 18 years, hit theaters on Friday (May 1, 2026).

The complete collaboration of Mammootty and Mohanlal was last seen in ‘Twenty20,’ directed by Joshiy and launched in 2008. Mr. Mohanlal made a brief appearance as himself in 'Kadal Kadannu Oru Mathukutty' (2013), featuring Mammootty and directed by Ranjith.

Patriot Story

Patriot tells the tale of a retired JAG officer, portrayed by Mammootty, who gets wrongfully charged with espionage. While trying to clear his name, he becomes involved in a secret operation related to national security.

Mohanlal takes on the role of an experienced military operative who teams up with him, enriching the story further. The intrigue deepens with Fahadh Faasil’s character, whose worries about their partnership suggest internal discord and heightened stakes.

Also Read: Pan India Kathanar Trailer, Release Date, Budget, Cast & More

Mohanlal’s Patriot Review

A user wrote to share their Patriot reviews, “Patriot has an interesting first half so far. It’s more of a slow burn thriller without many mass or elevation moments, but the plot is engaging and the character development has been really good. The interval punch was really good too.”

#Patriot has an interesting first half so far. It’s more of a slow burn thriller without many mass or elevation moments, but the plot is engaging and the character development has been really good. The interval punch was really good too.

Mohanlal doesn’t appear in the first half… https://t.co/SpJcjE0sAl pic.twitter.com/bU40tYutFN

— Mohammed Ihsan (@ihsan21792) May 1, 2026

Another wrote, “Patriot is not just a film..it’s a historic cinematic event and gives 4/5 rating.

#Patriot Review - BLOCKBUSTER 🔥💣

Rating - ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Patriot is not just a film..it’s a historic cinematic event. Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, this espionage thriller reunites the titans #Mammootty and #Mohanlal after nearly two decades and the result is pure fire. 🔥🔥… pic.twitter.com/HJLxWc6ml8

— Girish ✨ (@Girish__28) May 1, 2026

Overall, Patriot is a strong start at the box office with solid performances and engaging storytelling, giving it a clear edge over its competitors.

Spy Thriller Patriot Advance Booking

Despite lackluster promotional materials and subdued marketing efforts, the film has successfully secured strong ticket sales in its home market. Following a strong start to bookings, it has sustained the momentum.

Before its launch, "Patriot" earned a remarkable Rs 5.45 crore in Kerala via advance ticket sales. The movie also collected Rs 94 lakh from Karnataka and Rs 48 lakh from Tamil Nadu. In the Telugu regions of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it generated Rs 10 lakh, whereas the remaining part of India contributed Rs 31 lakh.

By merging domestic and international numbers, "Patriot" has reached an impressive Rs 21.15 crore in global advance bookings on its opening day. This figure ranks it as the second-highest for Mollywood, following only "L2 Empuraan."

Patriot Leads At The Box Office, Surpassing Raja Shivaji & Ek Din 

May 2026 is full of entertainment. Three movies - Patriot, Raja Shivaji and Ek Din released on the same day (1 May 2026) with different stories and cast. 

Patriot is a spy thriller starring Mohanlal, Mammootty, Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban, Nayanthara, and Revathi. 

Further, Raja Shivaji is a historical epic drama which features Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia, Sanjay Dutt, Vidya Balan and other actors.

And, Ek Din is a romantic drama starring Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles.

Total Net India Collection (As per now)
Movie Name	Patriot	Ek Din	Raja Shivaji
Collection (As per Sacnilk)	Rs 2.18 Crore	Rs 0.13 Crore	Rs 1.90 Crore

If we talk about their box office buzz, Patriot has taken an early lead in this box office clash. If the trend continues, it could emerge as the biggest winner of this release week.

Also Read: From Ek Din To Pitt Siyapa: Latest Movies This Week (Top 10 Picks)