Before becoming a world conquering artist, MIA was Mathangi Arulpragasam, Maya to friends.
Raised in Sri Lanka, Maya's mother sought refuge in London after living under an oppressive regime. Moving to Southwest London, her artistic ambitions soon began to grow, Maya starting as visual artist before turning to music, a medium in which she would find international success, starting with the track "Paper Planes".
That's just the beginning of her fascinating story, one that has been turned into a documentary by Steve Loveridge. Titled Matangi/Maya/MIA, the film looks at her upbringing, along with the various controversies that have mired her career.
The Independent has an exclusive clip from the film above, showing MIA as she heads back to Sri Lanka to revisit her roots.
Matangi/Maya/MIA is in select cinemas around the UK now. Visit the film's website for more information on screenings.
