Costao

The film depicts the efforts of Costao Fernandes (portrayed by Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a customs officer in Goa during the 1990s. His dedication to law enforcement drives him to uncover a gold smuggling syndicate. Working on a tip, he follows the gold smugglers, and in an act of self defence kills Peter, who was running away with gold. Peter happens to be brother of a politician, who soon wins the upcoming state election and uses all state forces to crush Costao and give him an unjust trial.

The narrative follows Costao's actions as he works to expose the smugglers, facing significant personal and professional challenges along the way. His pursuit of justice results in conflict with the smuggling ring, leading to a series of tense events. Eventually, post two convictions in lower courts, the Supreme Court rules in his favour.

• 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
• Davina Colaço
• Gagan Dev Riar CBI Officer Narang
• Shravan Fondekar as Young Informer
• Arjun Kumar Shrivasttav
• Dilkash Khan as Goon

Costao is produced by Bhanushali Studios Limited and Bombay Fables Motion Pictures, with a screenplay written by Bhavesh Mandalia and Meghna Srivastava.{{Cite news |date=2025-04-17 |title=Costao trailer: 'Honest customs officer' Nawazuddin Siddiqui is accused of murder, fights battle against corrupt system |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/costao-trailer-honest-customs-officer-nawazuddin-siddiqui-is-accused-of-murder-fights-battle-against-corrupt-system-101744879215647.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417093053/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/costao-trailer-honest-customs-officer-nawazuddin-siddiqui-is-accused-of-murder-fights-battle-against-corrupt-system-101744879215647.html |archive-date=2025-04-17 |access-date=2025-04-26 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us |url-status=live }} The story of Costao is based on real-life events surrounding a gold smuggling operation in 1990s Goa, and the film highlights the personal and professional challenges faced by Costao Fernandes.{{Cite web |title=Costao Teaser: Nawazuddin Siddiqui Is Up Against Goa's Most Notorious Smuggler |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/costao-teaser-nawazuddin-siddiqui-is-up-against-goas-most-notorious-smuggler-8162440 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=NDTV |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Costao: Release date, OTT platform, cast, plot, and more about Nawazuddin Siddiqui's drama |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/costao-release-date-ott-platform-cast-plot-and-more-about-nawazuddin-siddiquis-drama/4aa4cd2e1c840 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}} Filming took place on location in Goa, with cinematography by Rafey Mehmood and editing by Unnikrishnan Payoor Parameswaran.

Costao was released on 1 May 2025 on the ZEE5 streaming platform.{{Cite web |last=Soji |first=Alwin Benjamin |date=2025-04-26 |title=7 exciting OTT releases to watch between April 25 and May 1 |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/tv/2025/Apr/26/7-exciting-ott-releases-to-watch-between-april-25-and-may-1 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Indulgexpress |language=en}} The trailer was released in mid-April 2025.{{Cite news |date=2025-04-17 |title='Costao' trailer: Nawazuddin Siddiqui fights crime and corruption in gripping gold-smuggling thriller |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/costao-trailer-nawazuddin-siddiqui-fights-crime-and-corruption-in-gripping-gold-smuggling-thriller/articleshow/120384894.cms |access-date=2025-04-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

Costao received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for Nawazuddin Siddiqui's performance and the film's storytelling, direction, and pacing:{{Cite web |title=Costao Review: A Dark Crime Story with Powerful Performances |url=https://www.cinemaguru.in/2025/06/costao-review-dark-crime-story-with.html |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Cinema Guru}}

Pinkvilla called Costao "one of the rare Hindi OTT delights these days" and praised Nawazuddin Siddiqui for playing "a larger-than-life hero most realistically.{{Cite web |title=Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays a larger-than-life hero most realistically and there's nothing to complain. Pinkvilla. |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/reviews/costao-review-nawazuddin-siddiqui-plays-a-larger-than-life-hero-most-realistically-and-theres-nothing-to-complain-1385118}} Lachmi Deb Roy of Firstpost lauded the film as a "delightful movie" with a "terrific performance" by Siddiqui, appreciating its restrained storytelling and honest portrayal of real events.{{Cite web |last=Deb Roy |first=Lachmi |title='Costao' Movie Review: Terrific performance by Nawazuddin Siddiqui & what a beautifully restrained way of storytelling |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/costao-movie-review-terrific-performance-by-nawazuddin-siddiqui-and-what-a-beautifully-restrained-way-of-storytelling-13884168.html |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Firstpost}} Ronak Kotecha from The Times of India gave a mixed review, stating that Siddiqui's brilliance was evident, but the sluggish pacing and weak script diminished the impact of the real-life story.{{Cite web |last=Kotecha |first=Ronak |title=Costao Review: While Nawazuddin Siddiqui's performance offers glimpses of brilliance, the film ultimately doesn't capitalise on the intriguing real-life events it draws inspiration from |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/costao/ottmoviereview/120732298.cms |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=The Times of India}} Firstpost described the film as "a delightful movie" and commended Siddiqui's return to form, noting his "terrific performance" and the film's "beautifully restrained way of storytelling."{{Cite web |title=Lachmi Deb Roy. "'Costao' Movie Review: Terrific performance by Nawazuddin Siddiqui & what a beautifully restrained way of storytelling." Firstpost |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/costao-movie-review-terrific-performance-by-nawazuddin-siddiqui-and-what-a-beautifully-restrained-way-of-storytelling-13884168.html}} News9Live referred to Costao as "a powerful blend of emotion, corruption, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui's brilliance," noting his performance as "layered, restrained, and deeply affecting.{{Cite web |title=Taru Masand. "Costao review: A powerful blend of emotion, corruption, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui's brilliance." News9Live |url=https://www.news9live.com/entertainment/movie-review/costao-movie-review-2845195}} Moneycontrol highlighted Costao as "a sharp, engaging real-life drama," emphasizing Siddiqui's portrayal as "at his best."{{Cite web |title=A sharp, engaging real-life drama that sees Nawazuddin Siddiqui at his best." Moneycontrol |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/costao-movie-review-a-sharp-engaging-real-life-drama-that-sees-nawazuddin-siddiqui-at-his-best-article-13008524.html}} Koimoi lauded the film as a "22-carat gold story," stating that it delivers "what Bollywood missed- good films," and praised Siddiqui's headlining role.{{Cite web |title=Trisha Gaur. "Costao Movie Review: Nawazuddin Siddiqui Arrives With A '22 Carat Gold Story' Giving Bollywood What It Missed- Good Films!" Koimoi |url=https://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-movies/movie-reviews/costao-movie-review-nawazuddin-siddiqui-arrives-with-a-22-carat-gold-story-giving-bollywood-what-it-missed-good-films/}} Arpita Sarkar of OTTplay gave a positive review, rating it 4.5/5 and commending Siddiqui's natural acting and the film's enthralling narrative through the daughter's perspective, though she noted minor issues with plot execution.{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Arpita |title=Costao Movie Review: A gold smuggling ring, bold pursuit of justice and Nawazuddin Siddiqui at his best |url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/costao-movie-review-a-gold-smuggling-ring-bold-pursuit-of-justice-and-nawazuddin-siddiqui-at-his-best/8c7d3eabdb918 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=OTTplay}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/costao/0-0-1z5734786 Costao] on ZEE5
• {{IMDb title|id=tt13261550}}

Category:2025 films

Category:Indian biographical drama films

Category:Hindi-language comedy-drama films

Category:Hindi-language biographical films

Category:ZEE5 original films