'It could be my fault,' 'Patriot' director Mahesh Narayanan defends Fahadh Faasil; Says his performance was honest

The newly released film 'Patriot', which brings together Mammootty and Mohanlal after a long gap, continues its theatrical run with steady collections. The film has received mixed reactions from audiences and critics. Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, it also stars Fahadh Faasil and Kunchacko Boban in key roles.Fahadh Faasil’s performance has become a major talking point online. Many viewers have expressed differing opinions, leading to discussions across social media platforms. Addressing the criticism, Mahesh Narayanan shared his thoughts on the actor’s portrayal. “Fahadh has performed the character in his own complete way. The character is portrayed as someone with a troubled childhood. Fahadh is not a typical villain. There is a reason why he turns into one. You cannot set a fixed scale to measure a performance. Fahadh has performed very honestly. If people feel there is something wrong with that performance, then it could be my fault,” said Mahesh Narayanan in an interview with Movie World Media.Actor Mammootty also addressed the mixed reactions surrounding the film. Speaking during promotional events in Dubai, he urged audiences to form their own opinions.“The film is released. There is a mix of opinions on the movie. Some liked it while some did not. Some said the first half is good, others were happy with how the climax worked, but did not appreciate the start. We produced the movie to entertain people. It is good that all have an opinion on the movie. The film addresses a serious issue that needs to be talked about," said Mammootty, as reported by Kerala Kaumudi.According to Sacnilk, 'Patriot' has collected Rs 24.85 crore in India net collections so far. Its India gross stands at Rs 28.83 crore. The film has performed strongly in overseas markets which contributed Rs 41.50 crore.The film has crossed Rs 70 crore in worldwide gross collections. The overseas response played a key role in boosting its overall performance.On Day 3, its first Sunday the film collected Rs 5.50 crore. It ran across 2,229 shows and recorded a strong occupancy of 42.0%. However, the momentum did not sustain.The making of 'Patriot' took place over a long duration. The shoot was conducted across multiple locations and schedules. The film’s visual tone was shaped by cinematographer Manush Nandan.Editing responsibilities were handled by Mahesh Narayanan along with Rahul Radhakrishnan.