“Costao” begins with a voiceover by Marissa, the titular character’s young daughter. This voiceover adds an element of innocence and vulnerability to the true story of Costao Fernandes, a thoroughly professional and no-nonsense customs officer from Goa. Costao is ridiculed for his goody-two-shoes attitude and even draws comparison to a 24-karat gold bar that isn’t fit for jewelry since it is far too soft and pure.
In a world where money sways, Costao’s heroism and adherence to his moral code are both his biggest assets and also lead to a ‘downfall,’ as he runs afoul of a powerful local politician after catching scent of an illegal gold smuggling operation. An act of self-defence results in the death of the aforementioned politico’s son, Peter D’mello, and Costao is forced to abscond from the scene of the crime. What follows is a witch hunt that lasted close to a decade. Home turns into exile for Costao and his family. Once a respected government official, he faces humiliation for protecting himself and an informant in the line of duty, and his purity and integrity too is brought into question.
Nail-biting Scenes Pulled from Real Life
Being Goan myself and especially having heard about Costao Fernandes and his struggles from older members of my family, this biopic piqued my curiosity. It’s also a rarity for a Bollywood movie to portray a Goan as the central character. Instead of resorting to stereotypes or reducing the protagonist to a joke, “Costao” presents the journey of a typical true-blue Goan hero going up against a villain and does so with sensitivity and utmost sincerity. Having cross checked with relatives who were familiar with the case when it first made headlines in the ’90s, I was impressed by the efforts of Director Sejal Shah and writers Bhavesh Mandalia and Meghna Srivastava. They work to ensure that Costao’s obstacle-laden journey is narrated sans too many creative liberties and thus the movie is grounded yet gritty, save for a few names that have been altered for obvious reasons.
“Costao” features many nail-biting scenarios that are chillingly pulled from real life. These range from the concerns and claustrophobia of goons surrounding the protagonist’s humble home, events such as him being hounded or attacked mercilessly by veiled individuals in broad daylight at the courtroom, and a chase sequence through narrow rural roads. This latter is fearsome and has an adrenaline-pumping quality since it features Costao narrowly escaping the jaws of death. Other scenes that evoke unease include death threats resulting in Costao carrying a gun for protection even while attending his kids’ annual day, and looking over his shoulder every waking moment. While the customs officer once boldly stepped out at night during his routine inspections, during his court trial, even stepping out during the day is considered perilous.
A Great Nawazuddin Siddiqui
The movie also portrays Costao’s frustrations at a one-sided judicial system as he is deemed a criminal from the get-go. Meanwhile his accusers are given a clean chit despite their involvement in shady activities. They are allowed to play up their victim complex in a court of law, all while Costao feels compelled to argue his innocence even with the teachers at his kids’ school. The CBI officials in charge of handling his case also shift the blame on him, holding an asinine belief that the repetitive death threats to his life are acts of forgery, and this only adds to his predicament. But as the threats grow, so does Costao’s defiance. The movie also highlights his persistent questioning of double standards—law and order only exist to serve and protect the interests of corrupt higher-ups who wield power over the gullible voter bank.
The lead role of Costao is a return to form for Nawazuddin Siddiqui after a range of forgettable, miscast, or underwritten roles that wasted his talent in the past. Siddiqui is impeccable as the suave and stoic customs officer, who doubles as an easy-going family man. He’s simultaneously an individual who is labelled a ‘madman’ for challenging the system and choosing a road that’s a lot less rewarding. The actor shines during the scenes depicting a financially and emotionally draining trial. His character attempts to keep up a jovial front and stands alone against an entire mob, maintaining his innocence until the final verdict. Priya Bapat complements her co-star in the role of Costao’s wife Maria. Her dialogue delivery and subtle expressions particularly stand out in a brief scene featuring a CBI officer rummaging through Maria’s undergarment drawer in a bid to ‘find evidence’ to incriminate Costao.
A Must-Watch
The set and wardrobe department too deserves a mention for presenting Goan culture with authenticity. This is particularly true given the attention to detail to the dialect and language, the era, the locales, to even the homegrown munchies/snacks which are a ’90s kid staple and are enough to induce nostalgia.
Overall, “Costao” is a must-watch as it celebrates a man who set the gold standard in what is expected from a law enforcement official without watering down the struggles. Furthermore, it reintroduces Costao’s selfless sacrifices to a younger generation who weren’t around in the ’90s to witness history and heroism in the making.
“Costao” is currently available to stream on Zee5 Global.
