Veteran film director K Balachander and actress Manorama would be conferred honorary doctorates by the University of California for their immense contribution to Tamil cinema.

According to Brian Lee, Vice Chancellor, University of California, 'Balachander, who directed over 100 films, had set a new trend in Tamil cinema. He has been active for over three generations and has helped revived Tamil filmdom and took it close to the common man'.

'Manorama had acted in over 1000 films and found a place in Guinness Book of World records. She has been a witness to the steady growth of Tamil cinema', Brian Lee said.

The doctorates would be conferred in Chennai later this year, he added