My Dear Donga

My Dear Donga (transl. “My dear thief”) is a 2024 Telugu comedy drama directed by B. S. Sarwagna Kumar and written by Shalini Kondepudi, who also plays the female lead opposite Abhinav Gomatam. It skipped cinemas: the film was made as an Aha original and premiered directly on the Aha streaming service on 19 April 2024.

What the story is about

Suresh is a small-time thief who, one night, breaks into the wrong flat: it belongs to Sujatha. Instead of calling the police, Sujatha sees a streak of kindness in the intruder and ends up befriending him. The film follows that unlikely friendship and how it spills into the rest of their lives, including Sujatha’s circle of friends and an estranged boyfriend.

Cast

• Abhinav Gomatam as Suresh, the thief
• Shalini Kondepudi as Sujatha, the flat owner
• Divya Sripada as Bujji, Sujatha’s best friend
• Nikhil Gajula as Vishal, Sujatha’s estranged boyfriend
• Vamsidhar Goud as Vamsi
• Shashank Manduri as Varun

How it was made

Aha commissioned the project in December 2023 as one of its originals, with Shalini Kondepudi as the writer. The casting was made public in January 2024, naming Abhinav Gomatam as the leading man and Kondepudi herself in the female lead. Music is by Ajay Arasada and the production banner is CAM Entertainment.

Reviews

Reviews were mixed. Critics generally liked the performances and the situational comedy, but several found the emotional side thin and the storytelling uneven. The New Indian Express summed it up as “a character-driven comedy-drama that is dry and endearing in equal measure”, while The South First called it “a breezy rom-com with a lovable thief”. The Telugu site Chitrajyothy treated it as a time-pass film that offers a few laughs.

Where to watch My Dear Donga

Because it was made for streaming, Aha is the film’s home: our record is based on the Aha listing, which has had it since its premiere on 19 April 2024. There was no theatrical release and no box-office run. Availability can vary by region and plan, so check the listing before you settle in.

Sources: the Wikipedia article on My Dear Donga and the reviews it cites, linked above; the Aha listing; our own cast and crew records.