MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A DVD Review

It’s been sixteen years since M.I.A shot to fame with ‘Paper Planes’, yet there’s more to this incredible artist than meets the eye. In MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A, director Steve Loveridge uses the critically acclaimed musician’s own footage to tell her extraordinary tale.

The documentary starts at the beginning, at home with Maya; her Father stays to fight with the Tamil soldiers in Sri Lanka, whilst she moves to England with her Mother. This is an emotional time that resonates throughout the documentary – it even leads her on a quest to find herself in Sri Lanka.

Maya has always been interested in film and has lots of tapes and footage that she’s captured throughout her life. All of these little snippets and personal details make the documentary an addictive, fascinating watch. The viewer takes a semi voyeuristic role as we see her life through a lens – from making music at a young age, to seeing M.I.A on tour and exploring her friendships and relationships.

Get ready to delve into a journey of cultural change, as the documentary shines a spotlight on issues that many of us wouldn’t know as British citizens, such as what happens to families and refugees trying to come into the UK. It’s a massive eye opener.

The part where Maya goes to Sri Lanka and visits family she hasn’t seen for years is particularly moving, with the artist discussing how different her life would be if she lived in Sri Lanka.

MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A is a personal, accessible documentary that gives a brilliant insight into a hugely interesting life.

The DVD is released today and, whether you’ve listened to M.I.A’s music or not, I’d recommend getting your hands on a copy.

MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A is out on Digital, DVD and Blu-ray now.