Costao movie review: Nawazuddin Siddiqui gets a role that’s worthy of his talents, but script lacks lustre

Kishore is the menacing mobster D’Mello, whose enmity with Costao is cemented after an incident involving his younger brother Peter (Hussain Dalal) turns fatal. How that plays out , and its consequences for Costao and his family makes up the rest of the film, during which we get to see the mandatory flashes of beaches and car chases down winding roads, but very little else that’s Goan, including several of the characters.

This cursoriness keeps the film from reaching its potential as a document of an unusual government officer with a spine, who refuses to back down even in the face of grave danger. Priya Bapat, playing Costao’s wife Maria, comes up with a full-blooded performance, keeping in step with Siddiqui. Gagan Dev Riar, as the openly corrupt officer, is also worthy of your attention, while all Kishore does is frown darkly.

If only it had been executed with more verve, this would have been a film to remember for all the right reasons. Instead, the telling lets down both actors and story.

Costao movie cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Priya Bapat, Kishore Kumar G, Gagan Dev Riar, Hussain Dalal
Costao movie director: Sejal Shah
Costao movie rating: 2.5 stars