‘Patriot’ storms advance booking: ₹6 crore sales, biggest Malayalam opening incoming?
Malayalam cinema’s biggest release of the year is off to a roaring start. ‘Patriot’, the highly anticipated spy action thriller led by industry heavyweights Mammootty and Mohanlal, has registered exceptional advance booking figures ahead of its May 1 theatrical debut. Full-fledged advance sales opened at 9 am on Sunday, and within hours, pre-sales surged past ₹6 crore worldwide.
Industry trackers report that ‘Patriot’ clocked approximately ₹6 crore in global pre-sales within a short span, demonstrating extraordinary momentum for a Malayalam release. Kerala alone contributed over ₹2 crore to the advance booking tally, a milestone reached in just 5 hours and 54 minutes.
With four days still to go before release, trade analysts believe the film could challenge opening-day and opening-weekend records set by recent Malayalam blockbusters.
Kerala market shows strongest response
The strongest traction so far has come from Kerala, where demand surged as soon as bookings opened. According to reports, the Day 1 pre-sales in the state crossed ₹2 crore by early afternoon, cementing expectations of packed screens across the region.
The speed of the bookings suggests that ‘Patriot’ may outperform several of the industry's top-grossing titles if the pace holds.
Large ensemble cast
Much of the excitement stems from ‘Patriot’ marking the first full-fledged collaboration between Mammootty and Mohanlal in more than a decade. Their last substantial co-starring appearance dates back to ‘Twenty20’ (2008), with ‘Kadal Kadannu Oru Maathukutty’ (2013) often noted as another key crossover.
Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, the film brings the two stars together in commanding roles. Mammootty appears as Dr Daniel James, while Mohanlal plays Colonel Rahim Naik. Fahadh Faasil takes on the role of Shakthi Sundaram, and Kunchacko Boban features as Michael Devassy.
The film also boasts a strong ensemble that includes Nayanthara, Darshana Rajendran, Revathy, Rajiv Menon, Indrans, Grace Antony, Prakash Belawadi, Danish Husain, Jinu Joseph, Zarin Shihab and others.
Rajiv Menon appears as JP Sundaram, father to Fahadh Faasil’s character, adding another emotional layer to the narrative.
‘Patriot’ is written, directed and co-edited by Mahesh Narayanan, and produced by Anto Joseph and KG Anil Kumar under Anto Joseph Productions, with CR Saleem and Subhash George Manuel serving as co-producers.
Potential to rewrite box office records
With more than ₹6 crore already secured in advance ticket sales, ‘Patriot’ is tracking toward one of the biggest openings ever for a Malayalam film. Trade sources say the film is poised to challenge top earners such as ‘Lokah Chapter One: Chandra’, ‘L2: Empuraan’, ‘Thudarum’, ‘Vaazha 2’ and ‘Manjummel Boys’.
Strong overseas traction has further amplified expectations, with global markets showing substantial pre-release interest.
With booking numbers rising by the hour, the film's advance sales are expected to surge significantly by release day. If momentum continues, ‘Patriot’ could set new benchmarks both in Kerala and internationally, reaffirming its status as the biggest Malayalam release of 2026.