Malayalam cinema’s legendary duo Mammootty and Mohanlal are set to reunite on screen with Patriotreleasing on May 1. Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, the film marks another chapter in a partnership that began over four decades ago and has defined an industry.
Their journey together dates back to 1981, when both actors appeared in Ahimsadirected by I. V. Sasi. At the time, neither was a superstar. Over the years, they evolved into icons, sharing the screen in dozens of films as brothers, rivals, and friends, while maintaining a rare professional camaraderie.
From Padayottamwhere Mammootty played Mohanlal’s father, to No. 20 Madras Mailwhere Mohanlal portrayed an obsessive fan of Mammootty, their collaborations have consistently defied conventional star hierarchies.
A rare trend
Such partnerships are nearly absent in other South Indian industries. In Tamil cinema, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth acted together around 21 times, mostly before Rajinikanth became a major star. Their last collaboration was in 1979, after which both chose separate paths.
In Telugu cinema, a collaboration between Chiranjeevi and Nandamuri Balakrishna has long been discussed but never materialised. The idea of two reigning superstars sharing equal billing remains elusive.
This contrast raises a larger question: why does Malayalam cinema allow such collaborations while others do not?
Industry factors
Film critic and author S. R. Praveen points to the collaborative nature of the Malayalam industry. “It is a very collaborative industry… all the stars have been working together,” he explains.
He notes that while Mammootty and Mohanlal have acted in many films together, most were during the 1980s and early 1990s, before they became dominant superstars. “After that, their collaborations have been pretty less… now Patriot is happening. These two superstars coming together is a rare thing, even in Malayalam,” he says.
According to him, the industry is “less corporate controlled” and more open to experimentation, allowing actors to reunite even after long gaps.
Changing stars
Another factor is the evolving approach of the actors themselves. “Till about 2020, they were in a kind of rut… doing the same larger-than-life roles,” Praveen says. “After 2020, Mammootty was the first one to rediscover himself, trying to experiment. Now both of them are in that phase… where they want to explore.”
This shift has made collaborations like Patriot more likely, though Praveen adds, “I don’t know after this how many times we’ll get to see them both together… but this is a good start.”
Fan culture
The nature of fandom in Kerala also plays a role. Unlike the highly loyal and often rigid fan bases in Tamil and Telugu cinema, Malayalam audiences are more critical.
Praveen explains, “The fan clubs are… much more critical. They don’t just blindly support whatever is dished out.” This gives actors the flexibility to experiment with roles and collaborations without fear of backlash.
He also highlights the industry’s focus on content and modest budgets. “Malayalam cinema compared to all other industries… works with much lesser budgets. It’s more concentration on content,” he says, adding that this makes multi-starrer projects more feasible.
New phase
With the rise of OTT platforms and expanding markets, Malayalam cinema is entering a new commercial phase. “Now we have films collecting more than 200 crores… about 10 years ago even 50 crores was a big thing,” Praveen notes.
As revenues grow, producers may become more willing to fund large collaborations. Yet, the industry still retains space for smaller, content-driven films where multiple stars can coexist.
Patriot will ultimately be judged as a film. But it also stands as proof of something larger: in Malayalam cinema, two of its biggest icons never needed to compete to coexist—and that may be its greatest strength.
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