Due to the conflict, much of her young age was spent moving from home to home. Contact with her father was strictly limited, as she says he was in hiding from the Sri Lankan Army. As the civil war escalated, it became unsafe for the family to stay in Sri Lanka, so they relocated to Cennai, Tamil Nadu, India, moving into a derelict house, with sporadic visits from her father. They later settled in Jaffna again. By now, the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka was at its peak, and the family once again tried to flee the country. Eventually, Arulpragasam, her two siblings and mother Kala made it back to London where they were housed as refugees. It was in the late '80s, on a council estate in Mitcham (South London), that an eleven-year-old Arulpragasam began to learn the English language. Here she was exposed to Western radio for the first time, hearing broadcasts emanating from her neighbours' flats. Her affinity for hip-hop and rap began from there. Acts including Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante and N.W.A. would become just some of her early music influences.

Arulpragasam attended London's Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, where she studied Fine Art, Film and Video. Arulpragasam currently lives in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, New York in the United States.

Discography

* Arular (2005)
* Kala (2007)
* Maya (2010)

Some awards and nominations M.I.A. has received are listed below.

* Academy Award
o 2009: Nominated – Best Original Song – "O…Saya"
* Alternative Turner Prize
o 2002: Shortlisted – M.I.A. – Maya Arulpragasam
* World Soundtrack Awards
o 2009: Nominated – "O... Saya"
* ASCAP PRS Awards
o 2009: Won – "Paper Planes"
o 2009: Won – "Swagga Like Us"
* BRIT Awards
o 2009: Nominated – British Female Solo Artist
* BET Awards
o 2009: Won – Best Female Hip Hop Artist
o 2009: Nominated – Best New Artist
* Grammy Awards
o 2009: Nominated – Record of the Year – "Paper Planes"
o 2009: Nominated – Best Rap Song – "Swagga Like Us"
* Groovevolt Music & Fashion Awards
o 2005: Won – Best Alternative Album – Arular
* Mercury Music Prize
o 2005: Shortlisted – Album of the Year – Arular
* South Bank Show Awards
o 2005: Nominated – Breakthrough Award – M.I.A.
* Shortlist Music Prize
o 2005: Shortlisted – Album of the Year – Arular
o 2007: Shortlisted – Album of the Year – Kala
* Q Awards
o 2005: Nominated – Best New Act – M.I.A.
* Independent Music Awards (Canada)
o 2008: Nominated – International Album of the Year – Kala
o 2008: Nominated – International Artist/Group/Duo of the Year – M.I.A.
* UK Asian Music Awards
o 2009: Won – Best Female Act
* Spin and URB magazines' "Artist of the Year" in 2005
* Rolling Stone and Blender's "Album of the Year" 2007 – Kala
* USA Today's "100 Most Interesting People of 2007"
* The Village Voice's 2008 Pazz+Jop Poll: Singles Winner
* Time's 2009 Top 100 World's Most Influential People