Documentary
Sony BBC Earth names Uma Mani as Earth Champion for the month
Mumbai: Sony BBC Earth, one of the most loved factual entertainment channels, proudly presents Uma Mani as the Earth Champion for the month. Known as the Coral Woman of India, an artist and PADI-certified scuba diver, Uma, exemplifies the fusion of passion and action towards the conservation of coral reefs.
Uma Mani’s journey to becoming the Coral Woman of India began on the vibrant streets of Dindugul, Tamil Nadu. Taking an unexpected turn at the age of 49, she decided to become a PADI-certified scuba diver. This transformative decision was not just about exploring the underwater world but a commitment to safeguarding the delicate ecosystems beneath the surface. Uma’s dual passion for painting and scuba diving converged into a symphony of art. The canvas became her medium, and the ocean, her muse. Each stroke captured the essence of an underwater world. Uma has been using her artistic expression to spark meaningful conversations about the threats faced by coral reefs, including bleaching, pollution, and global warming.
Earth Champions is a monthly property of Sony BBC Earth that is committed to honouring real-life heroes making a substantial impact on our planet. The channel showcases the work done by the Earth Champions in a short-form content format with befitting music. The video is telecasted on the channel and promoted on network channels apart from the online medium.
Comments:
Sony Pictures Networks India business operations head – Sony AATH and gead – marketing & insights, English Cluster, Rohan Jain.
“Uma Mani’s commitment to coral reef conservation serves as a true inspiration for all of us. Uma’s journey mirrors her dedication driven by a deep-rooted passion for nurturing our planet. Sony BBC Earth takes immense pride in announcing her as our next Earth Champion. We hope it encourages people to reflect upon their actions and make sustainable choices.”
Uma Mani, an artist, and PADI-certified scuba diver with coral reef conservator, recognised as “The Coral Woman of India,”
“I believe that art is a very powerful and an effective tool of communication. It has helped me in raising awareness towards the need for coral preservation. Earth Champions is a great initiative by Sony BBC Earth. I hope these stories inspire more and more people to take green steps towards the planet.”
MUMBAI: From Ranthambore with roar. This World Tiger Day, BBC Player is sinking its claws into the untamed heart of India with Legendary Tigers of India, a gripping documentary that prowls onto screens this Independence Day, 15 August . Narrated by the late, legendary conservationist Valmik Thapar, the film is more than just stripes and stares. It’s a moving chronicle of survival, strength, and the shifting story of India’s national animal. Thapar, one of the world’s foremost tiger experts, spent a full monsoon-to-monsoon year tracking a new generation of Bengal tigers deep within Ranthambore, one of India’s most iconic tiger reserves.
With intimate access and five decades of experience behind the lens and in the wild, Thapar offers rare glimpses of tigers not just as apex predators, but as emotionally complex, intuitive creatures navigating shrinking habitats and growing human presence.
The film roars to life from Thapar’s own jungle home at the forest’s edge, blending dramatic visuals with a deeply personal narrative. From mother cub dynamics to solitary alpha males, the documentary captures the instinctual ballet of survival, mating, territoriality and raw jungle drama woven through the lens of ecological urgency and reverence.
Premiering exclusively on BBC Player in India via Tata Play Binge and Prime Video (add-on subscription required), this special release is BBC’s tribute to India’s tiger legacy. With India currently home to more than 70 per cent of the world’s wild tigers 3,682, as per the 2023 census the documentary feels both timely and timeless.
In an age of noisy content, Legendary Tigers of India invites audiences to pause, listen, and marvel. Not just at the majesty of the tiger, but at a conservation journey that began with 1,411 tigers in 2006 and roared back in triumph. This isn’t just a documentary. It’s a call to protect what still prowls.
