The king of romance, Yash Chopra has been conferred with an honorary doctorate by a UK College for his remarkable contribution to cinema.
The ace filmmaker, who has made memorable films like Silsila, Kabhi Kabhi and Chandni was given a Doctor of Letters by the School of
Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
"I am humbled by this honour and would like to thank SOAS for this recognition. My film making has always been from the heart and I would like to pass on this same message to students all over the world," the 77-year-old filmmaker said in a statement.
The Director and Principal of SOAS, Professor Paul Webley and The President of SOAS, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, presented the doctorate to Chopra.
Professor Rachel Dwyer, the public orator, said in the citation, "Chopra's films use a melodramatic form to show emotions at their deepest and rawest and that the dialogues and the song lyrics of his films are remembered and recited almost as mantras, as they describe things that are hard to say, using language, imagery and music in a perfect balance."
The filmmaker was previously conferred with an honorary doctorate by The Leeds Metropolitan University in 2007, in recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema.