South African actor musician, producer, and entrepreneur, Mandla Ngcongwane, best known for his starring role in the SABC1 sitcom City Ses’la, is set to release a passion project on Netflix that depicts the state of the music scene in South Africa today.
The new film titled Piano Love, is a love story set in the streets of Soweto and stars rapper Kwesta and media personality and choreographer Bontle Modiselle-Moloi.
In an exclusive interview with TshisaLIVE, Mandla discussed the inspiration behind the film and why he felt compelled to bring this story to life.
“I had to do something nice and huge for the culture. I couldn’t find anyone to finance so I financed it myself and sold it to Netflix,” Mandla told TshisaLIVE.
Mandla chose Kwesta for Piano Love because of his ability to connect with township audiences through his bilingual skills and understanding of the music journey. Despite the challenge of transforming Kwesta from a musician to an actor, Mandla provided coaching to help him capture the necessary emotions, drawing from Kwesta’s personal experiences in hip-hop and amapiano.
Bontle Modiselle-Moloi was cast to showcase her acting abilities, given her multifaceted talents and deep understanding of dance and amapiano culture.
Piano Love is set to release exclusively on Netflix on 23 August 2024, the film “Promises to be a captivating thrill ride, as we watch young love blossom against all odds,” stated Mandla in an Instagram post.
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As the release date approaches, fans are eagerly anticipating Piano Love with many commenting on social media about their excitement.
One user said, “I can’t wait for this! Well done team.”
Another one commented, “I’m just waiting for the Premier.”
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