Actor Mouli is trying to recreate the magic that changed his career last year. His next film, Donga Naa Koduku, has locked September 4, 2026, as its theatrical release date. Interestingly, the date comes almost exactly a year after Little Hearts, which released on September 5, 2025, and went on to become a surprise blockbuster.
The release date clearly carries some sentiment. Little Hearts gave Mouli a major breakthrough as a lead actor and turned him from a popular YouTube personality into a name recognized by theatrical audiences. Made on a modest scale, the film became one of 2025’s biggest surprise success stories.
Now, Mouli is returning with a completely different film.
Donga Naa Koduku is reportedly a robbery crime comedy directed by newcomer Sreenu Kambala, with Sushmita Shetty as the female lead. More importantly, Mouli now has the backing of Mythri Movie Makers, one of Telugu cinema’s biggest production houses.
That makes the September 4 date particularly interesting. Releasing almost on the same date as his breakthrough suggests the team is clearly hoping to carry some of that positive sentiment forward.
But sentiment can only take a film so far.
Little Hearts worked because audiences connected with its humor, characters and youthful setting. Donga Naa Koduku will have to establish its own identity rather than simply depending on Mouli’s previous success.
The advantage is that Mouli enters this release with far greater popularity than he had a year ago. There is also curiosity to see whether he can successfully move beyond the image created by Little Hearts.
Mythri Movie Makers backing the project adds another interesting angle. The banner is associated with some of Telugu cinema’s biggest films, yet it is also supporting this relatively smaller youth-oriented project.
For Mouli, therefore, Donga Naa Koduku is more than just another release. It is his first real test after Little Hearts. This September could reveal whether Little Hearts was a lucky one-film wonder or the beginning of a much bigger theatrical journey.
