MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. is a behind-the-scenes look into the British Tamil artist’s life

British Tamil artist “Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam” — better known to the world as M.I.A. is gearing up for the release of her highly anticipated documentary “MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A.” which hits cinemas across the UK on Friday 21st September. The film by Steve Loveridge is a behind-the-scenes look into M.I.A.’s life as an artist with a cache of personal footage shot by Maya Arulpragasm and her closest friends over the last 22 years.

“M.I.A. will be fighting forever” – The Guardian ★★★★

Drawn from a cache of personal video recordings from the past 22 years, director Steve Loveridge’s Sundance award winning MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. is a startlingly personal profile of the critically acclaimed artist, chronicling her remarkable journey from refugee immigrant to pop star. She began as Matangi.

Daughter of the founder of Sri Lanka’s armed Tamil resistance, she hid from the government in the face of a vicious and bloody civil war. When her family fled to the UK, she became Maya, a precocious and creative immigrant teenager in London.

Finally, the world met her as M.I.A. when she emerged on the global stage, having created a mashup, cut-and-paste identity that pulled from every corner of her journey along the way; a sonic sketchbook that blended Tamil politics, art school punk, hip-hop beats and the unwavering, ultra-confident voice of a burgeoning multicultural youth. Never one to compromise on her vision, Maya kept her camera rolling throughout.

MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. provides unparalleled, intimate access to the artist in her battles with the music industry and mainstream media as her success and fame explodes, becoming one of the most recognizable, outspoken and provocative voices in music today.

“This is not a normal pop documentary because M.I.A. is not a normal popstar” – The Atlantic
★★★★ – Empire
“An intimate look at identity… invigorating, eye-opening, alarming” – First Showing
★★★★ – Little White Lies
“Fascinating and frank” ★★★★ – Total Film
★★★★ – HeyUGuys