Patriot First Half Review: Mammootty Delivers a Gripping Performance in Highly Anticipated Thriller

["Mammootty's much-awaited action thriller Patriot has opened to packed auditoriums across Kerala and the Gulf, with early audience reactions flooding social media with praise. Fans who caught opening-day shows report that the megastar's portrayal of a steely undercover agent in the first half is among his finest recent work, drawing comparisons to his classic 90s roles in terms of screen command and intensity.","The film, directed by a young talent making his feature debut, is noted for its taut screenplay that wastes no scene in the opening hour. The background score and cinematography have been particularly highlighted, with the sound design reportedly amplifying the tension in every key sequence. Theatre managers in Ernakulam and Kozhikode report houseful boards from the very first show, with second-week bookings already filling up online.","Mollywood Times, another high-profile Malayalam release slated for May 15 and directed by Abhinav Sundar Nayak under Aashiq Usman Productions, is also generating buzz as Patriot sets the tone for a strong summer at the Kerala box office. Industry trackers note that 2026 is shaping up to be an exceptional year for Malayalam cinema, with multiple prestige projects lined up through the monsoon season.","Gulf Malayali audiences in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha organised special premiere screenings, with NRI fan clubs distributing sweets at theatre lobbies. The Patriot team has hinted at a post-interval twist that has audiences gasping, and early word-of-mouth suggests the second half escalates the stakes considerably. Full reviews are expected after the evening screenings today."]