Thaindian News

By Madhuri Dey
Dec 30, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Mel Brooks was awarded the Annual Kennedy Center Honor on Dec. 06, that was broadcast on CBS on Dec. 29. The ceremony is held every year to honor the celebrities who have brought about some significant change in the American cultural scene through the arts that they pursue. Each year, five such individuals are presented the award, and this year, which was the 32nd installment of the prestigious ceremony, Mel brooks was on of the honorees along with singers Bruce Springsteen and Grace Bumbry.

Mel Brooks was given the award for his lifetime achievement and contribution to the world of film making. He has donned several caps in his long and eventful career, namely, that of an actor, film maker, producer, writer and composer. Most of all, he is known for the outlandish themes of his films, which, insanely funny and acerbic at times, have never failed to provide complete entertainment for the audience. In fact, the best part of his films is that they treat serious themes like Antisemitism, racism and sexism with ample doses of laughter.

Carl Reiner, who had once collaborated with the 89 year old man in some of his comic ventures was the one to introduce him. He was felicitated by Ben Stiller and Meryl Streep. Members of the musical cast of the “Producers”, along with Jack Black, Richard Kind, Frank Langella, Harry Connick Jr., Martin Short and Matthew Broderick came together to perform a medley of the songs from films graced by Mel Brooks, like “Robin Hood: Men In Tights”, “History Of The World” and “The Twelve Chairs.”