Sarah Begum Kabori (also Kabori Sarwar; born Mina Pal, 19 July 1950 – 17 April 2021) was a Bangladeshi film actress and politician. Her notable films include Sutorang, Sareng Bou, Abhirbhab, Shat Bhai Champa, Sujon Sokhi and Lalon Fokir. She received the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the film Sareng Bou (1978) and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. Kabori got involved into politics later in her life. She became an elected member of parliament from the Narayanganj-4 constituency as an Awami League politician in 2008 and served until 2014.

Early life

Kabori was born in Boalkhali, Chittagong, East Bengal, Pakistan. She studied until 8th grade. Her father, Krisna Das Paul, was a Bhajan singer and her mother used to recite verses from religious books. Kabori was born in a cultural based family. Her siblings knew how to dance and sing. And her brother could play the tabla.

Film career

Kabori debuted in film industry at the age of 13. Her first film Sutorang, directed by Subhash Dutta, was released in 1964. She earned the role through the music director Satya Saha. In the film, Subhash Dutta changed the actress 'Mina's' name to 'Kabori,' which means 'bun of hair.' With her new name and appearance, Kabori quickly became a symbol of romance for the local audience through her debut in cinema. Kabori starred with Razzak in more than 20 films together since Dutta's Abirbhab in 1968; the films include Nil Akasher Niche (1969), Deep Nebhe Nai (1970), and Ka Kha Ga Gha Umo (1970). Kabori acted in several films with Farooque in the 1970s, notably Sujon Sokhi and Sareng Bou. She also starred with Bulbul Ahmed in Chashi Nazrul Islam's Devdas (1982). She acted in the 1973 film Titash Ekti Nadir Naam by Ritwik Ghatak, an Indian filmmaker. She also acted in an Urdu film Bahana by Zahir Raihan with co-actor Rahman. She also worked with other actors including Alamgir, Sohel Rana, Uzzal, Wasim, Khan Ataur Rahman, Golam Mustafa, Anwar Hossain and A.T.M. Shamsuzzaman. In 2006, Kabori directed the film Ayna. Kabori authored a book titled "Sritituku Thaak".

Political career

In 2008, Kabori was elected to the National Parliament in Bangladesh from Narayanganj-4 for 9th Bangladesh Parliament. During 1971 Liberation War, she participated by donating blood to help the freedom fighters. She had fled to India during the war and worked on a film, "Joy Bangladesh", in Mumbai.

Personal life

Kabori first married Chitta Chowdhury. After the divorce from Chowdhury, she married Shafiuddin Sarwar in 1978. Sarwar is an uncle of politician Shamim Osman. The couple was divorced in 2008. She had five sons.

Death and legacy

After testing positive for COVID-19, Kabori was first admitted to Kurmitola General Hospital and later, was shifted to the ICU in Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital where she died on 17 April 2021. She had been working on a film titled Ei Tumi Shei Tumi since 2019. The 1969 Ka Kha Ga Gha Umo film was shot in Chuadanga. The crew stayed at a house called Setab Manzil. The road around the house started going by the name Kabori Road after Kabori which became official in February 2017.

Filmography

Awards