I am returning the ONV award: Vairamuthu

Mr. Vairamuthu said that those who hold a personal grudge against him have interfered and have made sure that the award given to him is being reconsidered.

Tamil poet Vairamuthu.

Poet and film lyricist Vairamuthu, who faces sexual misconduct allegations from 17 women, said that he was returning the literary award bestowed upon him by ONV Cultural Academy based in Thiruvananthapuram. Mr. Vairamuthu’s announcement comes after the academy said that it was reconsidering their decision to give him the award.

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Mr. Vairamuthu said that those who hold a personal grudge against him have interfered and have made sure that the award given to him is being reconsidered.

 “I believe that this belittles me and ONV. Therefore, I want to avoid receiving this award in the midst of controversies,” he said in a video statement.

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Mr. Vairamuthu said that he is being ‘truthful’. “I would like to state that I have decided to return my award to ONV Cultural Academy. I would like to donate my prize money of ₹3 lakh to Kerala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. In addition, I would like to donate another ₹2 lakh from my personal funds,” he said.

Mr. Vairamuthu said that he hoped the brotherhood between Tamils and Malayalis becomes stronger. He also thanked Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin who congratulated him after the award was announced.