In this upcoming Netflix release, ‘Piano Love’, seasoned South African artist and filmmaker,
Mandla N takes center stage to tell a story that hits close to home. With roots in the music
scene through his work with Gang of Instrumentals, he shifts gears to the film world with a
narrative that mirrors his own journey—one of reinvention and staying true to your voice,
even as the culture around you evolves. This project, steeped in the sounds and rhythms of
Amapiano, is a powerful reflection of the highs and lows artists face, not just in South Africa
but globally.
In our conversation, Mandla opens up about the inspirations behind the film, sharing how his
experience in music naturally led to this cinematic endeavor. He dives into the challenges of
ownership, the reality of navigating the music business, and what it’s like to create a film that
speaks to a global audience. With a cast featuring Kwesta Dakar and Bontle Modiselle, and a soundtrack that includes 28 musicians, this film promises to be a bold statement on what it
means to own your craft and stay authentic in a fast-moving industry.
R: So talk to me about the inspiration behind the film.
M: The inspiration comes from my own life story. I used to do a lot of music back in the day
with my band, Gang of Instrumentals. But as time passed and music took a backseat, I had to ask myself, “What’s next?” That’s how I transitioned into film. I never allowed myself to be a victim of circumstance. I kept it moving, I never sat back and allowed msyelf be a victim. It’s
exactly my story, where you look at it and you say you don’t have to change your voice to be
part of a moving culture, to be part of what Amapiano is today. You just have to bring
yourself and that’s what I did. That’s what inspired me.
R: Amazing. So when is the film officially out?
M: The film is out on Netflix on the 6th of September, globally. We’re quite excited. We’re
panting it heavily in South Africa because it’s obviously the entry point, and then through the
world.
R: Can you name some of the main cast members?
M: Absolutely. We’ve got Kwesta DaKar and Bontle Modisille leading the cast.
R: Is the film a reflection of life in South Africa?
M: The film is a reflection of what it’s like being a musician globally, where you’ve got
producers and people that can make things happen for you, wanting favors, and some of those
favors are not favorable to you and your brand. So we drew inspiration from within the
context of South Africa.
R: How did the story come about?
M: I’ve written quite a lot of stories within my life, but this one, I was inspired by the globe
and how they were receiving Amapiano, and I thought to myself, I have to make my mark
and tell the story that is taking the world by storm. The inspiration was South Africans that
are making it.Within South Africa, you have your Scorpion Kings, Young Stunna, and Kabza
de Small, and I had to be part of that and tell their story. We probably commissioned about
28 musicians within the fiilm, so it was great just being part of their journey and their
livelihood in terms of licensing all that music.
R: What’s been your most memorable experience during the making of this film?
M: For me, the most memorable experience was in making that decision to go, “Guys, we’ve
got something special. How do we export it? Let’s premiere in London”, and that decision,
got us here today. Even now, having this interview with you (RSA) is a huge for us. So I’d
say I’m still in that moment, and these memorable moments are coming over and over and,
every single day I’m just living and going through them.
R: You said the film took eight days to shoot. How did you manage that?
M: I’ve been in the business for a very long time, so I understand how to shoot for edit. I’m a
director who shoots for edit. I understand the types of shots I want. Pre-prod is also a big
thing. You plan, so that everything goes the way you plan. So that when you approach the
film, you know exactly who the actors are going to be, and also have an amazing team. I’ve
got a really, really great team, and that’s why we could do it in eight days.
R: Is the whole film owned by your team, or is there external ownership?
M: I think ownership is a huge thing, especially when we were licensing the music, we
realized that South Africans, or even African musicians and artists don’t own their work. It’s
owned by huge labels and international labels. So for us, ownership is extremely important.
And we feel, it’s the beginning of what’s to come. We’re inspiring people to own their work,
own their IP, because it’s what’s going to get them, get their kids, ‘and their kid’s kids paid
and living through their art.
R: What message do you have for your supporters?
M: We really, really appreciate the support and we wouldn’t be here without the world just
embracing us as South Africa, as Africa. Our story is their story, it’s not really separate like
that. We are part of their story and their culture. We’re all part of a shared narrative, and in
50 years, it’s going to be everyone’s story, not just mine.
R: Thank you so much for this.
