logo
‘Costao' review: Gritty crime biopic rooted in justice and sacrifice

‘Costao' review: Gritty crime biopic rooted in justice and sacrifice

Hans India04-05-2025
Costao is a compelling biographical crime drama that delves deep into the real-life story of Costao Fernandes, a former customs officer whose pursuit of justice shook Goa's smuggling underworld in the 1990s. Directed by Sejal Shah, the film is streaming in Zee 5 from May 1, 2025, takes a hard look at duty, personal sacrifice, and the cost of integrity in a deeply corrupt system — all brought to life by the ever-versatile Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Set against the scenic yet politically turbulent backdrop of Goa, Costao opens by introducing its titular character in multiple shades — a committed officer, a caring father, and a loyal husband. Nawazuddin Siddiqui portrays Fernandes with raw intensity, capturing the emotional and psychological weight of a man torn between family and responsibility. From the very first frame, Siddiqui immerses himself in the role, making you believe in the man's unwavering moral compass.
The film's plot kicks off when Costao receives a tip about a massive Rs. 1500 crore gold smuggling operation allegedly orchestrated by a powerful politician, D'Mello. With the green light from his superiors, Costao dives into the investigation, ultimately leading to a physical confrontation with Peter D'Mello — a turning point that forever alters his personal and professional trajectory.
The script does a fine job of balancing action with emotion. The courtroom drama, family tensions, and betrayal from within the system all come together to paint a realistic picture of the pressures faced by honest officers. A particularly hard-hitting moment is when Costao, frustrated and cornered, delivers a searing line: 'Humare society mein sabko chahiye ki officer honest ho aur brave ho... lekin ghar mein nahi.' The duality of public expectation versus private sacrifice rings through the film.
Priya Bapat plays Costao's wife with grace and conviction, adding emotional depth to the story. Her chemistry with Nawazuddin, especially during high-stakes emotional confrontations, adds authenticity to the domestic struggles faced by whistleblowers. The father-daughter relationship, as narrated through Costao's daughter, becomes a standout narrative device, adding tenderness to an otherwise intense plotline.
While the film occasionally falters with minor pacing issues, it never strays from its core — telling a story of resilience. The visuals, scripting, and background score seamlessly blend to amplify the film's emotional impact.
In the end, Costao isn't just about one man's bravery — it's about what it means to stand for something when the world tells you not to. It's a salute to unsung heroes, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui's portrayal ensures it's a story that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Rating: 3.5/5
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Delhi Police bust work-from-home job fraud racket, arrest 4 men
Delhi Police bust work-from-home job fraud racket, arrest 4 men

Indian Express

time21 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Delhi Police bust work-from-home job fraud racket, arrest 4 men

The Delhi Police on Monday busted a syndicate involved in a large-scale work-from-home job fraud and arrested four men who allegedly duped victims by luring them with fake online job offers. The scammers allegedly siphoned off money through a web of bank accounts and converted it into cryptocurrency to evade detection, the police said. The police arrested Ankur Mishra, 22, a resident of Uttar Pradesh; Kratarth, 21, from Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh; Vishwash Sharma, 32, of Bhopal; and Ketan Mishra, 18, of Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, through coordinated raids in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh cities. The police revealed that the accused operated a sophisticated fraud operation using Telegram and other social media platforms. Initially offering small tasks for modest payments, the gang would lure victims into larger prepaid investment schemes involving cryptocurrency transactions. According to the police, the fraudsters would lure the victims to deposit more money under various pretexts to 'unlock' their earnings, and they would rotate the funds through multiple bank accounts to avoid detection before converting them into cryptocurrency, primarily USDT, further complicating the money trail. The scam came to light following a complaint by Kushagra Rai, a resident of Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, registered through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on May 27. In his complaint, Rai alleged that he was first contacted via Telegram on May 23 with an offer to earn Rs 50 per website review. After a few successful tasks and payments, the scammers convinced him to participate in 'prepaid' tasks involving the buying and selling of Bitcoin. Trapped in the promise of higher returns and redemption of 'earnings,' Rai continued transferring money until he had lost a total of Rs 17.49 lakh. Following a preliminary inquiry, a case was registered under sections 318(4) for cheating, 61(2) for criminal conspiracy, and 3(5) for common intention in criminal acts, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police formed a special team, which adopted a dual-pronged strategy, focusing on both technical surveillance and money trail analysis to trace the perpetrators. 'It was revealed that out of the total amount cheated, Rs 5 lakh was debited from the complainant's bank account and credited in Kotak Mahindra Bank. The alleged Kotak Mahindra Bank Account was found registered in the name of Ankur Mishra, S/o Arun Kumar Mishra. Ankur Mishra was also visible in CCTV footage of the bank along with two other co-accused persons during the withdrawal through cheque,' said Amit Goel, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South West. Goel said the police noted another account was operated from Agra and that the gang was operating simultaneously from Lucknow, Shivpuri, Agra, and other places.

How Tilaknagar industries' name came up in Andhra liquor scam
How Tilaknagar industries' name came up in Andhra liquor scam

Economic Times

time21 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

How Tilaknagar industries' name came up in Andhra liquor scam

Tilaknagar Industries, a notable player in India's alcohol industry, found itself in the limelight for all the wrong reasons after the Andhra Pradesh filed its chargesheet in the keenly-watched liquor scam in the state. Tilaknagar was named in the case along with a number of other industry peers, all of which have been implicated in alleged cases of various sharp practices and kickbacks related to liquor trade. ADVERTISEMENT The Andhra case is reminiscent of the Delhi liquor scam case that played a major role in bringing the Kejriwal government down. The chargesheet on the alleged Rs 3,500 crore scam mentions former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as one of the recipients of the kickbacks. However, the 305-page document didn't directly name him as an accused. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged liquor scam has arrested YSRCP Lok Sabha member PV Midhun Reddy on July 21, after grilling him for police alleged that the key accused brought out the new liquor policy during the previous YSRCP regime with an "underlying intent of having full control over the supply and sale of liquor". This helped them achieve their goal of earning commissions/kickbacks between 2019 till 2024, they to the chargesheet, Tilaknagar Industries paid an estimated Rs 218 crore to a syndicate as kickbacks "based on the quantity and price pushed through Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL)". These kickbacks were allegedly paid in return for an income of about Rs 1,472 crore that the company earned from APSBCL, it said. ADVERTISEMENT The Andhra Police chargesheet has sought to link a number of "suspicious" transactions to the company. The money, which the chargesheet says was received from APSBCL, was alledgedly converted to "untraceable liquid cash" through four jewellery investigators have accused Tilaknagar Industries of misusing its position and influence in the Andhra state alcohol body in order to push its business interests, eventually securing a major sales boost. ADVERTISEMENT In order to retain this competitive edge, the chargesheet says, Tilaknagar routed some part of its legitimate revenue to some jewellery merchants. The gold received in return for these funds was systematically passed on to the syndicate."This gave the transactions a veneer of legal GST-compliant business expense, while effectively converting white banked money into untraceable black assets," the chargesheet adds. ADVERTISEMENT Shares of Tilaknagar Industries, the maker of the Mansion House brandy and whisky and Blue Lagoon gin, defied the negative publicity to register sharp spikes on July 21 and 22. At around 1 pm on July 22, the stock was trading at over Rs 454, a 7+ per cent jump over the previous day. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

Saiyaara Star Ahaan Panday Was 'Least Pampered', Slept In A Passageway: 'They'd See Me In My Towel'
Saiyaara Star Ahaan Panday Was 'Least Pampered', Slept In A Passageway: 'They'd See Me In My Towel'

News18

time26 minutes ago

  • News18

Saiyaara Star Ahaan Panday Was 'Least Pampered', Slept In A Passageway: 'They'd See Me In My Towel'

Saiyaara actor Ahaan Panday shared stories from his childhood and revealed he once lived in a corridor until he was 14. Saiyaara Actor Ahaan Panday: Ahaan Panday might be riding high on the blockbuster success of Saiyaara, but things weren't always so shiny for him growing up. The 26-year-old actor, who made a splash with his debut in Mohit Suri's film, recently opened up in a YouTube video about some very humble beginnings inside a very full house. Despite being the nephew of 80s star Chunky Panday and having a well-connected family, Ahaan said he often got the short end of the stick as a kid – starting with his bedroom. In a video appearance on sister Alanna Panday and her husband Ivor's channel, he revealed, 'I can't give you a specific one but I do know that I was the least pampered. I know that because I lived in a corridor for 7 years of my life." Alanna, who has featured Ahaan in several of her videos before, quickly jumped in to clarify. 'It was not a corridor. It was a room built." But Ahaan was clear on the layout. 'It was a room built in a corridor. It was a corridor first. One side was the exit, and the other side were my dad and Dadi's bedrooms. I was in the passageway. Everyone would see me in my towel everyday." Now living in a four-storey home built by his father Chikki Panday in Mumbai, Ahaan shared that the mansion comes with its own game room and separate staff flats – a long way from his makeshift bedroom growing up. The video also saw Alanna reflect on their joint family life, which included not just her immediate family but also Chunky, Bhavana Panday (known from Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives), and cousins Ananya and Rysa Panday. 'We lived in a joint family. There's limited space. Would you rather live in a joint family full of love than have your own space and live separately?" she said. Ahaan nodded in agreement, adding, 'It was great. I won't have it any other way." While the behind-the-scenes stories from his childhood have been getting attention online, Ahaan's career is already hitting major milestones. Saiyaara has raked in over Rs 105 crore in just four days – a rare feat for a debut film in recent years. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store