The rational-transcendental dichotomy of Mahler functions

In this paper, we give a new proof of a result due to Bèzivin that a D-finite Mahler function is necessarily rational. This also gives a new proof of the rational-transcendental dichotomy of Mahler functions due to Nishioka. Using our method of proof, we also provide a new proof of a Pólya-Carlson type result for Mahler functions due to Randé; that is, a Mahler function which is meromorphic in the unit disk is either rational or has the unit circle as a natural boundary.