Tracing the Memory

Matangi / Maya / M.I.A.

Director: Steve Loveridge 
USA, UK, Sri Lanka, 2018, 97', color
English, Tamil with Turkish subtitles

MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. is drawn from a cache of personal tapes shot by Maya Arulpragasam and her closest friends over the last 22 years, capturing her remarkable journey from immigrant teenager in London, to the international popstar M.I.A. Inspired by her roots, M.I.A. created a mashup, cut-and-paste identity that pulled from every corner of her journey; a sonic sketchbook that blended Tamil politics, art school punk, hip-hop beats and the voice of multicultural youth. Never compromising, Maya kept her camera rolling through her battles with the music industry and mainstream media as her success and fame grew and she rose to become one of the most provocative and divisive artists working in music today.