[Photo: Mackaine congratulating Krishnan after he conferred him with the honorary doctorate.]

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia: Datuk L. Krishnan, the doyen of Malaysia's film industry has been conferred an honorary doctorate by Russia's Kursk State Technical University.

The honour was in recognition of his exemplary work and outstanding contributions to the development of the film industry in Malaysia and Singapore.

Prof Dr Ian Mackaine presented the scroll to Krishnan, 86, on behalf of the university, in a ceremony held at the Tun Hussein National Eye Hospital yesterday.

In the citation, Dr Mackaine said Krishnan's first movie, Bakti, launched the icon of Malaysian filmdom, (Tan Sri) P. Ramlee as a charismatic screen hero.

"He was the founding member of Shaw Studios and Cathay Keris Film Productions in Singapore before setting up Merdeka Studio in Kuala Lumpur from where he directed Tun Teja, the first film produced in Malaysia.

"The pioneer film maker then went on to set up the first Malaysian commercial film production house, Gaya Filem in 1970, which won many awards during its time," he said.

Krishnan also proposed the Made in Malaysia ruling for films to ensure the growth of the fledgling industry.

Dr Mackaine paid tribute to Krishnan for playing a key role in the setting up of the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) in 1981.

Krishnan also started the first 16-track recording studio in the country and the only private film processing laboratory, which still serves the entire industry.

Besides his involvement in the laboratory, the octogenarian is active in community work involving 10 organisations, including the Malaysian Film Academy, Malaysian Association for the Blind, the Tun Hussein National Eye Hospital, Medic Alert Foundation and the Discharged Prisoners Aid Society.

He has been hosting annual charity receptions over the past two decades.