Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has finally spoken out about the divided reactions surrounding his latest action thriller Patriot. In a candid chat with Galatta Plus, the actor admitted the responses have been mixed, but stood by his choice. He also opened up on the unpredictable nature of cinema, his bond with director Mahesh Narayanan, and the highly awaited Drishyam 3.
Mohanlal Opens Up On Patriot’s Reception
The actor did not dodge the question. He admitted the film has split audiences, yet made it clear that he personally enjoyed the experience.
“Mixed reactions are coming in for the film. But I liked the movie,” Mohanlal told Galatta Plus. He added that the script felt like something different the moment it was narrated to him, which is why he signed on without second thoughts.
Mohanlal also touched on a sensitive truth about stardom. He said viewers often judge a movie by separating the character from the actor, and there is little anyone can do to change that habit.
Why Patriot Has Divided Fans And Critics
Directed by Mahesh Narayanan and produced by Anto Joseph and K. G. Anil Kumar, Patriot stars Mammootty, Mohanlal, Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban, Nayanthara, Revathi, Darshana Rajendran and Rajiv Menon. The film hit theatres worldwide on May 1, 2026, and instantly became one of the year’s most talked about releases.
Reactions, however, swung sharply in both directions. Despite divided opinions on storytelling, the film’s technical strengths stood out, with the background score widely described as impactful and the cinematography giving the film a sleek, global tone.
Many fans had a specific complaint. Viewers debated everything from its pacing and runtime to Mohanlal’s screen presence and Fahadh Faasil’s performance, with some praising the film’s ambition and political undertones while others felt the second half lacked the impact of the first.
Here is a quick snapshot of what critics said:
| Publication | Rating | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| India Today | 3.5/5 | Spy cinema done right with minor shortcomings |
| The Indian Express | 3/5 | Mediocre writing fails to elevate the film |
| 123Telugu | 2.75/5 | Concept driven thriller that works in parts |
Mohanlal Calls Cinema A ‘Mystery Formula’
Speaking about the unpredictability of the box office, Mohanlal sounded refreshingly honest. He said no actor, no matter how big, can ever guess how a film will perform once it reaches the audience.
“When we make a film, it is impossible to predict how successful it will become. It is like a mystery formula,” he said. The actor added that he approaches every project with full love and confidence, treating every character as a duty to be performed with one hundred percent sincerity.
“When a character comes to me, my duty is to perform it with one hundred percent sincerity.”
– Mohanlal
His words carry weight when you look at the numbers. According to trade tracker Sacnilk, the film collected an estimated ₹1.20 crore India net on Day 6, taking total India net collection to ₹26.05 crore, while overseas earnings stood at around ₹41.50 crore gross, pushing the worldwide total to ₹71.72 crore by the end of Day 6. Patriot has also officially become Mammootty’s highest grossing film overseas, surpassing the record previously held by Kalamkaval.
Mahesh Narayanan Defends Fahadh Faasil’s Role
The conversation around Patriot has not been only about its two megastars. Fahadh Faasil’s portrayal of a character with a troubled childhood has also sparked debate online.
Director Mahesh Narayanan, speaking to Movie World Media, stood firmly behind his actor. He said Fahadh delivered the character in his own complete way and stressed that performance cannot be measured by a fixed scale. According to Narayanan, Fahadh played the role with full honesty.
Narayanan has also been upfront about how the film was designed. “I wouldn’t call it a Mammootty-Mohanlal film. It’s a Mammootty film with several other important characters. The thought that I was making a Mammootty-Mohanlal movie happened much later,” he said in an earlier interview.
Key points fans should remember:
- Mammootty plays Dr. Daniel James, a Defense Research Wing officer and scientific analyst.
- Mohanlal plays Colonel Rahim Naik, Daniel’s best friend and a retired Indian Army officer.
- Fahadh Faasil plays Shakthi Sundaram, a corporation owner and former IAF officer.
- The digital rights for Patriot have been acquired by ZEE5.
Drishyam 3 And Mohanlal’s Next Big Chapter
The actor also turned his attention to his next major release, Drishyam 3. He reminded fans that even the original Drishyam arrived without any guarantee of becoming a phenomenon.
“We cannot predict the commercial success or box office collection of a film. Even in the case of Drishyam, no one knew it would become such a huge success,” he said. For the third installment, his focus is purely on the character of Georgekutty, not the financial side.
That mindset feels rare in today’s noisy box office driven industry. It is also a reminder of why Mohanlal continues to enjoy a fan base that spans generations and languages.
As Patriot continues its theatrical run and Drishyam 3 builds buzz, Mohanlal’s calm, grounded words offer a quiet kind of comfort to fans caught between debates online. He picked the film because it moved him, performed it with honesty, and now leaves the verdict where it belongs, with the audience. Whether you loved Patriot or felt let down by it, his message is simple: stories matter more than numbers. What did you think of the film? Share your honest review in the comments and tell us if Drishyam 3 is already on your watchlist.
