The long-awaited teaser for Mahesh Narayanan’s multistarrer film, officially titled Patriot, dropped on Thursday at noon, immediately setting off a wave of excitement among fans. The project, earlier referred to by its working title MMMN, brings together some of Malayalam cinema’s biggest names in what is being billed as a political espionage thriller of grand scale.
Headlined by Mammootty and Mohanlal, Patriot also features an elite ensemble including Fahadh Faasil, Nayanthara, Kunchacko Boban, Darshana Rajendran, Revathy and Zarin Shihab in key roles. The film marks the first major collaboration of Mammootty and Mohanlal after more than a decade. The teaser itself leans into that shared history of Malayalam cinema with a distinctly meta flavour, teasing not just a cinematic story but also the thrill of seeing the two icons side by side again.
Running for just over a minute, the teaser of Patriot wastes no time in setting the tone. It opens with Fahadh’s commanding voiceover: “There was a time when this nation was controlled by the two of them. Together. Over all these years, what they earned wasn’t just followers. Faith! Trust!” Soon, it cuts to Mammootty’s entry as a poised bureaucrat. His line about introducing a “social score” hints at a sinister political programme. Then comes Mohanlal, stepping in as soldier Rahim Naik, declaring: “There are three of us. Do you think you can stop us, sir?” His arrival leads directly to Fahadh’s character as a seemingly corporate shark, before the teaser races through appearances by Nayanthara, Kunchacko and Darshana, their dialogue circling a mysterious programme called “Periscope”. Questions of surveillance, secrecy and state control loom large.
The urgency builds with quick cuts of computers and mobile screens. A voice warns, “Do you realise what will happen if they reunite?” Fahadh answers with one word: “Blast!” The teaser ends on Mammootty asking: “Great Indian traitor… or patriot?”, with a fleeting visual of Mammootty and Mohanlal together. Patriot teaser carries a meta charge that celebrates the explosive reunion of Malayalam cinema’s titans, promising a slick, high-stakes espionage thriller.
Patriot has been in production since November 2024. Mammootty recently rejoined the film’s schedule in Hyderabad, where the team is currently shooting. Producer Anto Joseph revealed that the film will head to the UK for another leg beginning October 15, followed by a November schedule. The plan is to wrap filming by December 15, with the makers eyeing a Vishu 2026 release window. Its production is led by Anto, with C R Salim and Subhash Manuel as co-producers.
