The newly released Malayalam film Patriot’s biggest selling point is undoubtedly the reunion of Mohanlal and Mammootty. The two legends share screen space after nearly two decades, their last appearance together being the famed Twenty:20. Naturally, expectations are sky-high. Mahesh Narayanan, however, stays true to his filmmaking style despite having a dream cast at his disposal, crafting an espionage thriller with an enviable ensemble.

Dr Daniel James (Mammootty) is a scientific advisor employed with the government in the Defense department. An honest cabinet minister, played by Revathy, informs him about a major deal between the government and a corporate giant that threatens individual privacy. At the centre of this is Periscope—a system capable of accessing any device with a single click, referred to as “zero-click.” As Dr James begins to track down those responsible, he is branded a traitor just as he inches closer to the truth. Left with little choice, he flees the country and settles in Europe, where he starts a YouTube channel exposing Periscope with real-life examples of how it has destroyed innocent lives. As his online presence grows, those behind the system set a plan in motion to eliminate him. Mohanlal appears in an extended cameo as a trusted, old friend to Mammootty’s character.