RTS award

Big Umbrella Media has won a Royal Television Society Award for an ”outstanding broadcast programme created by an independent company based in the Midlands”.

The award was for the BBC2 current affairs international documentary ‘The Goddess and The King’ which told the story of a 10-year-old girl worshipped as a living goddess in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. It followed the Nepalese tradition of a young female living Goddess giving her blessing to the King of Nepal to secure his future reign. ‘The Goddess and The King’ has since been sold around the world by BBC Worldwide.

When it was shown on BBC World, 81% rated it one of the best or better programmes of the week. 95% felt they had learned something and it scored more than 70% for originality, subject matter, engagement and impartiality.

The film captured a moment in Nepal when everything was changing. Maoists were on the streets and elections were being organised, but tradition and ritual still remained vital in giving this country its identity and provided a way for people to understand many of the changes that were taking place.

For over 250 years one pre-pubescent Nepali girl has been worshipped as the living incarnation of the Goddess Taleju, the omnipotent protector deity of the King and country. During her reign she cannot speak in public, her feet cannot touch the ground and her every expression is analysed for signs of the goddess’s displeasure.

She is the Royal Kumari, wide-eyed, raven-haired and currently just 9 years old. For centuries she has blessed the King, placing a red ‘tikka’ mark on his forehead, but now he has had the power to rule stripped from him and a fragile coalition of 8 political parties negotiates the way forward for the country. In addition, the Supreme Court is soon to pronounce on whether the Kumari’s life as a goddess is an abuse of her human rights.

The documentary provided a unique insight into an incredible way of life, of belief and tradition still very active in the 21st Century. It revealed many things about Nepal and its traditions and most importantly examines how the changes affecting a 9-year-old girl are a metaphor for those reaching every level of this ancient society.