Film Review Costao: A Powerful Comeback by Nawazuddin Siddiqui

By Shantiswaroop Tripathi

• Rating:  (3 Stars)
• Producer: Vinod Bhanushali
• Writers: Bhavesh Mandalia and Meghna Srivastava
• Director: Sejal Shah
• Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Priya Bapat, Kishore Kumar Ji, Hussain Dalal, Rohit Tiwari, Gagan Dev Riar, and others
• Duration: 2 hours 4 minutes
• OTT Platform:  ZEE5

In recent years, Bollywood has seen a surge of biopics—especially those aiming to ignite patriotism by portraying the subject as a national hero. Unfortunately, most of these films have failed both at the box office and in achieving their intended impact. However, for the first time, director Sejal Shah brings us Costao, a biopic on a principled customs officer from Goa who is wrongly framed by the system under political influence.

Storyline 

The story is narrated by Costao’s daughter, Marisa, who has always called her father by his first name and grew up watching him live a life of integrity. Marisa secretly documents his journey, collecting newspaper clippings and keeping records.

Set against the backdrop of Goa, Costao follows Customs Officer Costao Fernandes (played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a dedicated officer committed to his duty and nation. He lives a peaceful life with his wife Maria (Priya Bapat) and their three children. Costao is determined to eliminate gold smuggling in Goa and has already caught several notorious smugglers. His next target is Alfonso D’Mello (Kishore Kumar Ji), a powerful local politician and gold smuggler.

When Costao gets a tip-off about Alfonso’s men moving gold, he raids the location—but Alfonso manages to flee. Later, Costao receives intelligence about a major smuggling operation worth ₹1,500 crore. He sets out alone, successfully capturing Alfonso’s brother Peter (Hussain Dalal), but during a scuffle, Peter is accidentally killed.

Due to Alfonso’s political clout, a CBI officer, Sameer Narang, enters the scene. Despite knowing Costao’s honesty, Narang frames him, taking the case to court. A gripping courtroom drama unfolds. The case reaches the Supreme Court, where Costao is offered relief if he reveals his informant’s name. He refuses, choosing to protect his source, even at the cost of his own freedom.

This selfless act becomes a legal landmark. Costao is acquitted with honor and later awarded the President’s Medal for his service.

Review

Writers Bhavesh Mandalia and Meghna Srivastava deliver a compelling script with strong research and emotional depth. The screenplay is engaging throughout, filled with sharp dialogue and meaningful moments. One standout line comes when Costao says, “"Agar vyakaran ka paalan karenge to angrezi kabhi nahin seekh paayenge." while justifying breaking protocol for justice.

Unlike many biopics, Costao avoids forced patriotism. Instead, it presents a grounded story where love for family and country coexist. In one touching scene, Maria complains that Costao rarely says "I love you", prompting him to explain the importance of both love and patriotism.

The film echoes the message of duty over self, society over family, and country over all—reminiscent of films from the 1980s and 90s made by directors like Mehul Kumar. The portrayal of Maria’s emotional conflict is especially well-done, making her character relatable to everyday women.

Director Sejal Shah’s biggest misstep is narrowing the narrative too tightly around Costao. Including more socio-political context from the era would have enriched the story. As the screenplay becomes overly centered on one character, the narrative loses some momentum.

Performances

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, after a string of underwhelming films, delivers a powerful performance as Costao. While his Goan accent falters at times, his emotional intensity brings the character to life. Priya Bapat is excellent as Maria, capturing her internal struggle with nuance.

Kishore Kumar Ji leaves a mark as the smuggler-politician Alfonso, though his role lacks depth. Rohit Tiwari is effective as Costao’s senior officer. Gagan Dev Riar, as the corrupt CBI officer, delivers a brief but memorable performance.

Read also:

• Shehnaaz Gill Buys Luxury Car Worth Crores: Find Out the Price of Her New Ride
• Misha Agarwal Death: Influencer's Suicide Revealed, Brother-in-Law Speaks Out
• Raid 3 Confirmed: Makers Announce Sequel Before 'Raid 2' Release, Ajay Devgn to Star
• Javed Akhtar Reacts to 'Abir Gulaal' Ban After Pahalgam Attack: Calls for Unity

Tags: Costao genre | Costao release date | Costao streaming platform | Costao trailer | Nawazuddin Siddiqui Costao | nawazuddin siddiqui Achievements | nawazuddin siddiqui movie | nawazuddin siddiqui interview | nawazuddin siddiqui Biography