It was
an eventful evening in Goa as the #TeraMeraBeach campaign celebrated 100 days with a large number
of tourists and visitors enjoying the fantastic beats of Thaalavattam as the
sun set over Miramar beach.
The unique public awareness campaign #TeraMeraBeach, organised
by Drishti Marine, is aimed at educating people on cleanliness and beach
management along the coastal stretch.
The successful #TeraMeraBeach campaign which took place at Baga
and Miramar will spread to Calangute, Candolim and Colva beaches. The campaign
consists of daily drum circles lead by musicians from Taal Inc. followed by
each participant of #TeraMeraBeach adding one piece from the collected waste to
the community art installation. The art installation consists of bottles, cans,
papers, cloth etc. collected by the participants during the clean-up drive.
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The 100 day celebration kicked off with tourists and visitors
drumming to the rhythmic beats of Djembes, followed by the adorning of the art
installation at the beach with various items of waste collected during the
clean-up drive. It was followed by a performance by Montry Manuel of
Thaalavattam who produce splendid beats with instruments made out of waste,
plastic and metal.
What drew Montry Manuel to the campaign was how it linked to his
own music philosophy.
“For me it’s not only Goa, it’s all around the world. I just
came back from a Europe tour. I did 16 countries in 90 days and 25 festivals
including TedX talks and interactive sessions. My intention is to go all around
the world. Goa is just one of the places on my list. I feel awareness is very
important and I am doing my part and showing people who would learn and next
time when in Goa we can reduce this garbage menace,” said Montry.
The beach campaign was in syn with the aim of his solo project
Thaalavattam- that is spread the message of environmental conservation through
music with the motto – Reduce, Reuse, Retune. “My message is ‘If we take care
of our mother earth she will always take care of us and our future generations
to come.’ And I feel that #TeraMeraBeach campaign is a platform which we need
everywhere in this world. Beginning within India itself. It’s a great
opportunity for me to come and be part of it and being an artist it fits in
with the project,” said Montry
When asked how he picks his material to create the instruments
required to produce music, Montry stated that it all depends on what inspires
him. “For example I picked up one bottle and created music. At times I have
picked up and created instruments at the junkyard itself. One of my instruments
is called ‘Floating Jugs’, I found 25 discarded steel water jugs. I picked up
one and played a tune and realised it has a great sound. Then I collected all
25 which I found, took it back to my studio and I started experimenting with
the sound. Feeling it, touching it; creating instruments out of waste is like
having a relationship Over the last 15 years I have been developing
relationships with all my instruments. I am open to finding out new mediums to
produce music, otherwise I would be a drummer or a guitarist. It’s amazing that
we create sound from nothing. I have another very special instrument called
‘Tubela’. It’s the discarded PVC pipes which I found at a construction company
site. I picked it up and fine-tuned it and gave it a new life,” added Montry.
Speaking
about his future plans, Montry said his next project is about creating self-
sustaining music. “I am working on a project which involves solar power music
speakers which are self-made so that I can produce sound without using
electricity,” said Montry.
