L. Krishnan, pioneering director of early Malay cinema and mentor to P. Ramlee, dies at 104
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — National film figure and 2016 Merdeka Award recipient Tan Sri L. Krishnan, who played a si...
Tan Sri L. Krishnan, a pioneering figure in early Malay cinema and mentor to the late P. Ramlee, passed away at the age of 104 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Born in 1922 in Madras, India and raised in Penang, Krishnan commenced his film career post-World War II before relocating to Singapore in 1949 to work at Shaw Studio as a director.
During his tenure at Shaw Brothers, Krishnan played a pivotal role in the career progression of P. Ramlee, collaborating with notable figures of the time like Maria Menado, Kasma Booty, and Mustapha Maarof. Throughout his illustrious career, Krishnan helmed over 30 films, including P. Ramlee projects like Bakti and Takdir Ilahi, along with horror films like Orang Lichin, Orang Minyak, and Serangan Orang Minyak.
He also contributed to the development of the Malay film industry by founding Gaya Filem Berhad, Gaya Music Studio, and pioneering the first film colour laboratory in 1982. Krishnan received numerous accolades, such as the 2016 Merdeka Award, P. Ramlee Award, Malay Cinema Gallery Award, Panglima Jasa Negara, International Tamil Film Award, and South Indian Cinematography Award, underscoring his immense impact on the Malay film industry.
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