The film Costao is a gripping biographical crime drama streaming on ZEE5, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the titular character, Costao Fernandes—a real-life customs officer from Goa who became a symbol of integrity and courage in the 1990s.
Among the highlights of new OTT releases this year, Costao is a riveting biographical crime thriller that brings to light the unknown but incredible story of Costao Fernandes, a highly courageous customs man from Goa in the 1990s.
Starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a tour-de-force performance, the film unfolds the gripping saga of an honest officer's lone battle against a deep-rooted gold smuggling syndicate and the political masters protecting it.
Sejal Shah's direction does not just traverse the circumstances that brought Fernandes to the spotlight of national fame but also explores the emotional and ethical price of choosing duty over compromise. With its intense courtroom drama, explosive flashbacks, and moral complexity, the film is a powerful reminder of the price paid by real-life heroes in the margins of scandal and corruption.
Gold, Grit & Goa: The Unyielding Stand of Costao Fernandes
In the coconut-lined heaven of 1990s Goa, where sun-kissed beaches hide the undertow of crime and corruption, one man would not play by the rules. Based on fact, albeit fictionalized, Costao chronicles the life of Costao Fernandes, a honest revenue officer who exposes a multimillion-dollar gold-smuggling operation abetted by influentially powerful political allies. Attempting to keep justice alive, Fernandes becomes a participant in the cat-and-mouse game of risk, lies, and fatal conclusions.
In a 1991 shoot-out of cinematic drama, he finds himself compelled to kill Alvernaz Alemao—Goa's then-Chief Minister's brother—during a bungled assignment. Ostracized as a murderer rather than being showered with applause as a hero, Costao must endure heartless legal and political battles in order to stake everything to recover his honor and establish the reality.
With tension-filled questioning, courtroom confrontations, and flashbacks that show the cost of every choice, Costao draws the picture of an unsung warrior who chose honor over survival in a world dominated by silence.
The Rebel in Uniform: Costao Delivers Justice with a Heavy Heart
Costao, the newest hard-hitting entry in India's biographical drama wave, is greater than a law-enforcement tale—it's a creeping exploration of conscience, corruption, and bravery. Now streaming on ZEE5, this Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer towers above 2025's most buzzed-about releases, marrying real-world grit with cinematic gravitas.
Performance: A Masterclass from Siddiqui
Nawazuddin Siddiqui again demonstrates why he is one of India's best actors. Playing Costao Fernandes, a customs inspector torn between doing his job and a political storm, Siddiqui doesn't act the part—he becomes it.
His interpretation of Fernandes is subtle yet powerfully expressive, capturing the desperate quiet of a man forced to his limits ethically. Whether dealing with gangsters or testifying in a courtroom filled with tension, Siddiqui dominates every shot with weight.
Direction & Writing: Firm, If Not Aggressive
Sejal Shah helms with restraint fitting for the serious tone of the movie. The narrative is linear but textured, drawing in audiences to the political underworld of 90s Goa.
Bhavesh Mandalia and Meghna Srivastava's script deserves praise for shying away from melodrama, though tightened writing in the second half would have taken the narrative's pace to the next level. Some of the courtroom scenes are dragged a bit too long, which weakens the sense of urgency in Fernandes' battle slightly.
Visuals & Setting: Goa Like You've Never Seen
Special mention must go to cinematographer Rafey Mehmood for making Goa a character in itself. Bye-bye postcard-perfect visuals—hello ports, warehouses, and government offices overflowing with tension. The dark aesthetic mirrors the dark morality of the film's villains.
The production design crafts 90s India with a quiet subtlety, from the analog radio news reports to the newsprint-style flashbacks.
Music & Score: Understated yet Powerful
The score, which is written with restraint, marks important emotional beats without overpowering the story. No chart-topping hits here—only evocative ambient soundscapes that reflect the tempest raging within Fernandes. It's a smart creative decision that keeps the film firmly on the ground.
⚖️ What Works
* A strong lead performance by Nawazuddin Siddiqui
* Adapted from a strong and lesser-heard true story
* Intelligent cinematography and realistic production design
* Strong moral center and social applicability
❌ What Doesn't
* Pacing problems in the second half
* Underdeveloped side characters
* Parts of the legal drama aspects come across as predictable
Conclusion
Costao is more than a biopic—it's a paean to the silent soldiers who prefer principle to politics. With Nawazuddin Siddiqui giving one of his most contained and powerful performances, the film manages to strip away the layers of a lost episode in India's battle against corruption. Though its pace may stumble and its form tip towards the conventional, the emotional gravity and moral import it carries are undeniable.
Amongst the jumble of sensational melodramas and stylized thrillers, Costao emerges—a slow, measured reminder that real heroism is not usually accompanied by claps, and justice sometimes walks in with a blood-soaked uniform.