Costao Movie Review: Siddiqui Anchors a Sluggish Biopic

Costao (2025) is a Hindi-language biographical crime drama directed by Sejal Shah, based on the real-life story of Costao Fernandes, a courageous customs officer in 1990s Goa who sacrificed everything to bust a major gold-smuggling ring. Released on ZEE5 on May 1, 2025, the film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the titular role, with Priya Bapat, Kishore Kumar G, and Hussain Dalal in key ensemble roles.

Cast and Crew of Costao

• Director: Sejal Shah
• Writers: Bhavesh Mandalia, Meghna Srivastava
• Producers: Vinod & Kamlesh Bhanushali, Bhavesh Mandalia, Sejal Shah, Shyam Sunder, Faizuddin Siddiqui
• Cinematography: Rafey Mahmood
• Editing: Unnikrishnan Payoor Parameswaran

Main Cast:

• Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Costao Fernandes
• Priya Bapat as Maria Fernandes
• Kishore Kumar G as D’Mello
• Hussain Dalal as Peter D’Mello
• Mahika Sharma as Cassandra
• Gagan Dev Riar as CBI officer Narang

Costao Movie Review: Plot Overview

The story follows Costao Fernandes, a principled customs officer who uncovers a gold-smuggling operation. During a raid, he accidentally kills Peter D’Mello, brother of a powerful politician. This action triggers a legal and political backlash, leaving Costao to face murder charges and losing eight years of his life in court and custody. Despite the trauma and corruption, he remains resolute, driven by integrity and service.

Performances and Direction

Nawazuddin Siddiqui delivers a masterclass in acting, bringing a restrained intensity and commanding presence that anchors the entire film. Critics note that his performance elevates otherwise flat material.

Priya Bapat offers solid support as Costao’s wife, conveying quiet strength through the limited emotional space she’s given. Kishore Kumar G and Hussain Dalal fill expected roles but lack depth, their characterizations feeling more formulaic than fully realized.

Sejal Shah’s direction opts for a straightforward, linear narrative viewed through the lens of Costao’s young daughter. While intimate, this approach fails to inject the tension or cinematic flair needed to do justice to a high-stakes story.

Technical Aspects and Pacing

Visually, the film is clean but fails to capture Goa’s vibrancy—the setting feels underexplored. The pacing starts promisingly but sagging mid-film as the narrative drags through domestic disputes and courtroom scenes without sufficient dramatic build-up. Dialogue often flips into rudimentary voiceover exposition rather than sharp or tension-filled exchanges .

Costao Movie Review: Final Verdict

Costao is driven by a remarkable central performance but weighed down by an uninspired script and static direction. While it pays tribute to an honest officer’s sacrifice, the film lacks emotional resonance and narrative urgency. Critics offer mixed reviews:

• Times of India calls it “lacklustre,” citing slow pacing and repetitive scenes.
• India Today describes it as “half-baked,” applauding Siddiqui but critiquing the lack of gripping storytelling
• Indian Express remarks the role suits Siddiqui, but the script is underwhelming.
• Filmfare sums it up as “flat, one-dimensional narrative” with a compelling lead

Rating: ⭐⭐½ (2.5/5)

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