Patriot director Mahesh Narayanan on Jana Nayagan censor issue: Art has the power to convey, not to influence

Mahesh Narayanan, the director of films like Malik, Take Off and the upcoming multi-starrer Patriot, was in Bengaluru recently, for a session at the ongoing Bengaluru International Film Festival. Patriot, he said, has a political angle, much like his other films too, which landed him in trouble as well. “Anything personal is political these days. As a filmmaker, you have to say that in a good angle, so that it communicates well to a larger set of people. That is the only thing that I am trying with Patriot. The film, though, is in a new genre that I have never tried – an espionage thriller, which involves a bit of action too,” he said.

What is Patriot maker Mahesh Narayanan's take on the Jana Nayagan issue?

In the context of the censorship of Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, Mahesh cited the example of former Tamil Nadu chief minister MG Ramanachandran’s Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban, which was due to release ahead of an election, at a time when Karunanidhi was the chief minister. “The film had some political undertones and Karunanidhi’s party workers wanted it to be banned, as they felt that it was critical of the party. Karunanidhi, an artiste himself, said something very wise, ‘Do you think our party workers will run away after watching a 2-hour film? If that is the ideology, we should disband the party’.”

The filmmaker added that cinema and politics are different. “A 2-hour film is a representation of one person’s political ideology. That should not influence people. Art has the power to convey, not to influence. That is my way of expressing; I can only convey my point of view, which may differ from another’s,” said Mahesh.

Also read: Patriot release date: Here's when Mammootty and Mohanlal's much-anticipated film will hit theatres in April 2026 

During the interaction, the filmmaker was asked if cinema as a medium of protest exists in the current socio-economic atmosphere. Mahesh, for instance, has faced censorship issues with all his films, even outside of India. The filmmaker cited the example of a film festival in Iran in 2018, where he had spoken about director Jafar Panahi, which offended most of the cinephiles and media personnel there. “I was told that I was analysing the issues in Iran through the lens of the western media and that it is different lens on the ground,” he said, adding, “As an artiste, filmmakers should be given the liberty to address any kind of issue.”

Patriot movie FAQs

Q. Which is the new movie of Mahesh Narayanan with Mammootty?

A. The new movie of Mahesh Narayanan with Mammootty is Patriot, which also stars Mohanlal.

Q. What is the story of patriot Malayalam?

A. The story of the Malayalam movie Patriot will revolve around Daniel James, who is facing serious allegations and now needs to clear his name.

Q. Which is Mohanlal's movie with Mammootty?

A. The 2026 movie Patriot brings together Mammootty and Mohanlal on screen after more than a decade.