Movie Name : DNK (Donga Naa Koduku)
Release Date : November 13, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Mouli Tanuj Prashanth, Sushmitha Shetty, Ali, Raghu Babu,and others
Director : Sreenu Kambala
Producers : Naveen Yerneni, Y. Ravi Shankar
Music Director : Sinjith Yerramilli
Cinematographer : Surya Balaji
Editor : Sreedhar Sompally
Related Links : Trailer
Donga Naa Koduku, which was later renamed DNK due to certain issues, has finally arrived in theatres. Mouli, who shot to fame with Little Hearts, plays the lead role in this crime comedy drama. Here is our review of the film.
Story:
Eeshwar (Mouli), a careless youngster from Vizag, loses a huge amount of money through online betting. Struggling to clear his mounting debts, he comes up with a plan that lands him and his family in unexpected trouble. How Eeshwar gets out of this situation forms the rest of the story.
Plus Points:
Mouli fits the role well and does a decent job of entertaining the audience. His comic timing works well in several scenes, and he manages to bring humour even to serious and emotional situations, giving the film a lighthearted feel.
Babloo also manages to evoke a few laughs as Mouli’s sidekick. Ali and Rajitha deliver decent performances, while Gundu Sudarshan is adequate in his role. Nanda Gopal brings the required seriousness to the narrative, and Bhadram comes as a pleasant surprise.
The interval twist sets up an interesting second half. The latter part works better, offering a good mix of tension, comedy, and twists, while the background score supports these moments well.
Minus Points:
With Mouli in the lead, the film naturally leans more towards comedy than a serious crime drama. The director follows this approach, though those expecting a more engaging crime thriller may not be fully satisfied with the treatment.
The first half is just okay, offering limited entertainment. While the second half has some fun moments, it suffers from pacing issues in a few places. The climax twist also falls short of complete satisfaction, as the conclusion lacks the impact needed to leave a strong impression.
Heroine Sushmitha Shetty looks good but gets very little screen time to make a mark. Her character is limited to a few scenes and does not add much value to the story. The combination of Priya and Raghu Babu could have generated more laughs, but their potential is not fully utilised.
Technical Aspects:
Debutant director Sreenu Kambala makes an attempt to keep the film entertaining. However, he could have focused more on natural comedy instead of relying on forced jokes. Editor Sreedhar Sompally could have trimmed a few scenes to fix the pacing issues and make the narrative tighter.
Suriya Balaji’s cinematography is passable, while the production values are decent. Sinjith Yarramalli once again delivers a refreshing background score that adds depth to the proceedings.
Verdict:
On the whole, DNK (Donga Naa Koduku) is a crime comedy that lacks punch. Mouli entertains with his usual comic style, while Babloo adds a few laughs with his supporting act. However, the film is held back by writing flaws, occasional forced comedy, pacing issues, and underwhelming characters. The second half offers some relief, but the overall experience remains inconsistent. DNK doesn’t leave a strong impression and is best skipped in favour of better options.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team