RYAN KOST’S OFF-THERADAR PICK

Maya Arulpragasam — better known as M.I.A. — is one of the most influential pop artists of the past few decades. She was one of the first musicians to infuse traditional candied hooks with world beats at a time when that was rarely done, let alone en vogue. Her first two albums, “Arular” and “Kala,” were received with the wide critical acclaim that a sound so paradigmshifting deserved. Now, that sound is commonplace for pop music.

But, for all her contributions to music, M.I.A. remains both a lightning rod and something of an enigma. There’s the infamous New York Times profile that painted the rapper not as a “power to the people” sort but as a truffle-fryeating elitist. More recently, she’s been hit for seeming to dismiss the Black Lives Matter movement.

Now, a new documentary, long in the making, takes a look at M.I.A and her musical career. For some time, it seemed “Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.” might never make it to theaters. It finally premiered in September, though it’s not playing widely. Those in the Bay Area have six chances to catch it at the Roxie between Friday, Oct. 5, and Oct. 11.

“Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.”:

6:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5; 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6; 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7; 9:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8; 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9; 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11. $13. Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St., S.F. www.roxie.com/calendar

Eamonn M. McCormack / Getty Maya Arulpragasam at the London premiere.