Mammootty and Mohanlal have officially confirmed the release date for their new film, Patriot. On Republic Day, both actors shared a new poster on their social media accounts – X and Instagram, announcing that the movie will be released in theatres on April 23, 2026. This coordinated reveal followed a series of character posters that were released over the weekend, which had fans trying to decode hidden Morse code messages about the date.
The new poster shows the main stars of the movie together in a mad scramble. The film has a heavy-hitting ensemble cast starring Mammootty, Mohanlal, Nayanthara, Kunchacko Boban, Fahadh Faasil, Revathy and Rajeev Menon. The design uses dark, metallic tones and features Mammootty holding what looks to be a circuit board – looming large over the other cast members in a decidedly Orwellian manner.
It also includes the tagline “Dissent is Patriotic,” a tagline that gives prospective audiences a feel for the film’s plot. By sharing each other’s posters on their own pages, the two stars highlighted the collaborative nature of this project. The film might face a potential clash with Mohanlal’s Drishyam 3 at the Box Office, which is eyeing a world-wide April release as well – specifically April 2, 2026.
About the film
Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, the movie is a political thriller that looks into themes of government surveillance and data privacy. The plot centers on a programme called Periscope that monitors citizens, leading to a conflict between the characters. Mammootty plays Dr. Daniel James, a man trying to clear his name after being accused of a crime, while Mohanlal plays Colonel Rahim. The teaser released earlier showed their characters questioning the ethics of a social score system being forced on the public.
This is an important release for Malayalam cinema because it is the first time in eighteen years that Mammootty and Mohanlal are leading a film together. The supporting cast is equally strong, featuring Kunchacko Boban, Revathy, and Rajeev Menon. It is reported to be the most expensive production in the industry to date, with a long filming schedule that took the crew to the UK, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, and various parts of India.
The technical aspects to film-making
Mahesh Narayanan is not only directing, but also handling the writing and editing for the film. The technical side is supported by cinematographer Manush Nandan and music director Sushin Shyam. The presence of four different stunt choreographers suggests that while the movie is a political drama, it will have a good amount of action.
With the release now confirmed for late April, the film is expected to be one of the biggest earners of the year. The production team, led by Anto Joseph and KG Anil Kumar, finished the final shoot on January 4. Since the stars have such a huge following, theater owners are preparing for a massive turnout across Kerala and international markets.