Find additional screenings of MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A
Featuring M.I.A.
After the film, join music star M.I.A. herself for her reflections on modern political activism, the pitfalls of being an outspoken pop star, and the challenges of expressing polarizing messages of global importance. Hosted by film critic Radheyan Simonpillai.
About the film
Mathangi Arulpragasam started out with a yearning to make films. As a teenaged immigrant in London, she was fascinated by her family history and the political turmoil of her homeland of Sri Lanka. As the years went on, her artistic expressions would shape her into the genre-bending music star M.I.A. Her unique sound, bold style and controversial, outspoken activism made her into a worldwide sensation. Admirers and critics latched on to lyrics, videos—and a single finger that caused a multi-million-dollar lawsuit. Through it all, she maintained her rebellious spirit, much to the delight of her fans and the scorn of her detractors. Assembling countless hours of M.I.A.'s own footage alongside music videos, interviews and concert performances, her lifelong friend Steve Loveridge has created an exhilarating mash-up that showcases the many forms of a polarizing and fascinating pop culture figure. Gabor Pertic
About the host
Radheyan Simonpillai is a film critic for Toronto's NOW Magazine and CTV's national breakfast show Your Morning. He also contributes to CTV News Channel and CBC Radio.
Rad holds an M.A. in Cinema Studies from the University of Toronto. He is a member of the Toronto Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Film Critics Association
Rad previously collaborated with M.I.A. on NOW Magazine's "I. Am. Tamil" cover story.
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