Does Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam ring any bell? Remember the song ‘O...Saya’ from the Oscar Winning movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ which was also nominated for Best Original Song category the same year. If one has already started to hum the song, then it will also be interesting to know that this famous song was co-written by the same Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam (popularly known as M.I.A) with legendary A R Rahman for the 2008 film. And now we will be seeing this London-based rapper, songwriter and painter participating in the much awaited Kochi-Muziris Biennale.
M.I.A, who was nominated for an Academy and Grammy Award in a single year, will be an added attraction at the Biennale where she will showcase her concern for environment in India through new art. “Through this platform, I want to focus on the concerns for ecology and environment as well as inclusive economic development,” says M.I.A. The artist of Sri Lankan origin will also dish out a high-voltage performance on the inaugural day of the Biennale to be held on December 12. This will be her first stage performance in India.
As an artist she wants to remove the stamp of elitism from art and culture and mainstream it for the masses. “I want to take the art out of the galleries and make it accessible for the people, especially for the young children,” says the 37-year-old artist-musician-philanthropist who is on a third visit to Kerala.
When asked what appealed her to be part of Biennale, she says, “Like music, I would like to bridge the gap between the East and the West through art forms.” Though she is mum with regard to her Biennale work, she assures that it will be not too serious. “It will be all fun. It won’t be too serious. I would like all children to come and see it,” says M.I.A, whose songs combine elements of electronic, dance, alternative, hip hop and world music, earning her massive fan following. Her recently released ‘Bad Girls’ single has already garnered over 25 million Youtube hits.
As for her passion for conservation of nature, M.I.A bemoaned that India continued to be stuck in the 1950s ideas of the West, where the growth was unrestrained. “West today is taking steps for a healthier life by discarding toxic chemicals and banning smoking in most cities and have started adopting a green, environmentally-adaptable life.”
In India, on the other hand, there is a competition between demand and supply in the service industry. “This is not a healthy scenario in India,” she noted.
Lavishing praise on traditional arts forms in Kerala and its martial arts, she, however, said environment was the most important thing for her in life as she embarks on a new phase of her career.
About being part of Kochi Biennale, she says, “I trust what is happening here. I got to learn that Kochi is the original cosmopolitan region in India. Also, I like the idea of trying something new and thus I readily embraced it.”
“For artists, music is a form to explain their views to the masses. Art is like a big jigsaw to put things in place...the Biennale can bridge the gap between art and expression; it will create a dialogue (between the two cultures). It will make the Indian art accepted and presented at international platforms,” says the artist.
M.I.A is the only artist in history to be nominated for an Academy Award, Grammy Award, Brit Award, Mercury Prize and Alternative Turner Prize, and the first artist of Asian descent to be nominated for an Academy and Grammy Award in the same year. About her future projects, she revealed that a new single will come out next month. A documentary is also to follow. The singer, who has come out with a book ‘MIA’, says it speaks about her evolution as a singer and an artist.
About her future projects, the artist says, “A single is to be released next month, and a documentary will follow.” As for the book titled ‘MIA’ that she came out with recently, she said it delves into five eventful years that cover the production and release of her three LPs: Arular, Kala and Maya.
