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Lyricist-Writer Varun Grover And Director Neeraj Ghaywan To Donate Prize Money For Relief Of Farmers In Maharashtra

National Award Winners Varun Grover And Neeraj Ghaywan Will Be Donating Their Prize Money
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On March 28th, at the 63rd National Film Awards, lyricist Varun Grover was awarded the prestigious award for penning down the lyrics for 'Moh Moh Ke Dhaage' from Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015). At the same ceremony, director Neeraj Ghaywan was awarded the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film, for Masaan (2015).

This year, one of the worst droughts to have hit the country in decades has wrecked crops, killed livestock and rendered thousands of farmers without a livelihood. As a result farmers from drought-hit regions of Marathwada and Vidarbha, Maharashtra are being driven to cities in hordes, in search of work.

On Wednesday, Grover, in a tweetstorm, revealed that Ghaywan and he would be donating their prize monies — a total of ₹1 lakh — for the benefit of those farmers:

Thanks for the wishes. Me & @ghaywan have decided to donate our National Awards cash-prize money for the relief of farmers in Maharashtra.

— वरुण (@varungrover) May 4, 2016

Am donating all of it (INR 50k) & combined with @ghaywan's it'll be INR 1L. We'll find a credible channel so that it reaches the most needy.

— वरुण (@varungrover) May 4, 2016

I know it's just a drop in the ocean & the situation needs much more involvement (and not just cash), but at the moment this HAD to be done.

— वरुण (@varungrover) May 4, 2016

Also chose to make it public mainly to inspire others. If nothing else, just read about the string of crises our farmers face every year.

— वरुण (@varungrover) May 4, 2016

And naturally, Twitter lauded the decision.

@varungrover@ghaywan Congratulations! Well deserved!

— Denver Ka Dhakkan (@tantanoo) May 4, 2016

@varungrover@ghaywan Congratulations and nicely done

— Rukmini S (@Rukmini) May 4, 2016

@varungrover@ghaywan This is so touching. Very well deserved!

— Roshni Devi (@Roshni_Devi) May 4, 2016

@varungrover@ghaywan Congratulations on the win once again. And well played. Respect.

— Suhail Kazi (@kazisuhail) May 4, 2016

@varungrover@ghaywan nice : )

this is what we expected from you guys .keep it up

— Anand Kushwaha (@akushwaha25) May 4, 2016

Well done, guys.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.