Patriot

​In Patriot, director Mahesh Narayanan smartly leverages his ensemble's acting prowess rather than leaning on sheer star power, arguably the film's greatest strength. While the narrative follows a familiar trajectory, Patriot distinguishes itself as a highly refined thriller through its technical execution, expansive cast, and subtle detailing. ​The visual language is an absolute delight. Manush Nandan’s framing, elevated by Ashirwad Hadkar’s precise color grading, creates a striking atmosphere. Complementing this is Sushin Shyam’s score, which masterfully amplifies the tension of each scene with a standard of excellence we've come to expect. ​Performances are the anchor here, with Mammootty delivering a predictably visceral and grounded central performance. While Chackochan, Darshana, and Nayanthara deliver highly competent supporting acts, Zarin Shihab emerges as a clear standout. The dynamic between Fahadh Faasil and Rajiv Menon is intricately crafted, highlighting a poetically ironic father-son relationship. However, Fahadh's character arc, despite its strong foundation, suffers from over-dramatization and loses focus in certain parts. Conversely, Mohanlal feels criminally underutilized, his presence relying entirely on his inherent star persona rather than narrative substance. ​Narayanan employs a chapter-based structure that effectively sustains the film's inherent secrecy. Mammootty's YouTube subplot and the interval block cleverly illustrate that intellect often triumphs over mere experience. Furthermore, Narayanan seeds easter eggs throughout the narrative, subtly telegraphing the third act—a risky, secretive move that yields mixed results. ​The film's primary misstep lies in its inclusion of over-the-top action sequences and dialogues meant directly as an ode to the stars rather than the characters, which feel glaringly out of place and unnecessary in an otherwise entirely content-driven narrative. ​Ultimately, Patriot is a stylish, technically sound Mahesh Narayanan film with high ambitions that doesn't entirely stick its landing. PVR: SATHYAM; SERENE