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 Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress () is the highest award for film actresses in Bangladesh. List of winners Records and statistics Multiple wins The following individuals received two or more Best Actress awards: See also * ...

for her role in the film '' Sareng Bou'' (1978) and

Lifetime Achievement Award Lifetime achievement awards are awarded by various organizations, to recognize contributions over the whole of a career, rather than or in addition to single contributions. Such awards, and organizations presenting them, include: A * A.C. ...

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 The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...

politician in 2008 and served until 2014. She was also an active social worker and women’s rights activist. There were several film festivals which were sponsored by her.

Early life

Kabori was born in

Boalkhali Boalkhali () is an upazila of Chattogram District in Chattogram Division, Bangladesh. Geography Boalkhali is located at . It had 44108 households and its total area is 126.46 km2. According to the 2001 Bangladesh Census, there were 36,58 ...

, Chittagong, East Bengal, Pakistan. She studied until 8th grade. Her father, Krisna Das Paul, was a

Bhajan Bhajan is an Indian term for any devotional song with a religious theme or spiritual ideas, specifically among Dharmic religions, in any language. The term bhajanam (Sanskrit: भजनम्) means ''reverence'' and originates from the root w ...

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 A ''tabla'' is a pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Since the 18th century, it has been the principal percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music, where it may be played solo, as an accompaniment with other instruments a ...

Film career

Kabori debuted in film industry at the age of 13. Her first film ''

Sutorang ''Sutorang'' is a 1964 Bengali-language film directed by Subhash Dutta. Dutta played the male lead role as well. Actress Kabori Sarwar made her debut in this film. The film won the second prize in Frankfurt Asia Film in 1964. Ferdausi Rahm ...

'', directed by

Subhash Dutta Subhash Dutta (9 February 1930 – 16 November 2012) was a Bangladeshi filmmaker, theater and film actor. He started his career as a commercial artist. Dutta was heavily influenced by Satyajit Ray and his deep affection towards Satyajit earned hi ...

, was released in 1964. She earned the role through the music director

Satya Saha Satya Saha (25 December 1934 – 27 January 1999) was a Bangladeshi composer, and musician. His notable composed songs are "Chena Chena Lage" by Shyamal Mitra, "Dukkho Amar Basor Raater Palonko", "Chhiti Dio Protidin" by Sabina Yasmin, "Mon Bole ...

. 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 Akbar Hossain Pathan Dulu (; 18 August 1948 – 15 May 2023), known by the stage name Farooque (Bengali: ফারুক), was a Bangladeshi actor, politician, businessman and producer. He was known as 'Mia Bhai' (respected brother) to mass peo ...

in the 1970s, notably ''Sujon Sokhi'' and ''Sareng Bou''. She also starred with

Bulbul Ahmed Bulbul Ahmed (born Tabarruk Ahmed; 4 September 1940 – 15 July 2010) was a Bangladeshi actor and director. He won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actor award three times for his roles in the films ''Shimana Periye'' (1977), '' Badhu B ...

Chashi Nazrul Islam Chashi Nazrul Islam (11 October 1941 – 11 January 2015) was a Bangladeshi film director and producer. He won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Director twice for the films '' Shuvoda'' in 1986 and '' Hangor Nodi Grenade'' in 1997. He wa ...

's ''

Devdas ''Devdas'' (, transliterated as ''Dēbôdās'') is a Bengali romance novel written by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The story pivots a tragic triangle linking Devdas, an archetypal lover in viraha (separation); Paro, his forbidden childhood love ...

'' (1982). She acted in the 1973 film

Titash Ekti Nadir Naam ''Titash Ekti Nadir Naam'', or ''A River Called Titas'', is a 1973 Bengali language film directed by Ritwik Ghatak and produced as a joint collaboration between India and Bangladesh. It is based on the 1956 novel of the same name by Adwaita ...

Ritwik Ghatak Ritwik Kumar Ghatak (; 4 November 19256 February 1976) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, actor and playwright. Widely considered as one of the greatest film makers of all time, his works remained largely underrated and ignored during hi ...

, an Indian filmmaker. She also acted in an

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

film ''Bahana'' by

Zahir Raihan Mohammad Zahirullah (19 August 1935 – disappeared 30 January 1972), known as Zahir Raihan, was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is most notable for his documentary '' Stop Genocide'' (1971), made during the Bangladesh Liberatio ...

with co-actor Rahman. She also worked with other actors including Alamgir, Sohel Rana, Uzzal, Wasim,

Khan Ataur Rahman Khan Ataur Rahman (known as Khan Ata; 11 December 1928 – 1 December 1997) was a Bangladeshi film actor, director, producer, screenplay writer, music composer, and singer, best known for his role in the film '' Jibon Theke Neya'' (1970). He ...

Golam Mustafa Golam Mustafa (2 March 1935 – 20 February 2003) was a Bangladeshi actor and reciter. Early life and career Mustafa first acted in a play named ''Pallimangal'' in Barisal in 1945. Filmography * ''Harano Din'' - 1961 * ''Chanda'' - 1962 * ...

, 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 The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which resulted in the independence ...

, 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 Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

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 has five sons.

Death and legacy

After testing positive for

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

, 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 Chuadanga () is a city in western Bangladesh. It is the headquarters of Chuadanga Sadar Upazila and Chuadanga District. Located on the Mathabhanga River, Mathabhanga river, Chuadanga was the first capital of Bangladesh. It was the sub-district of ...

. 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

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kabori, Sarah Begum 2021 deaths 1950 births Actresses from Chittagong Bangladeshi film actresses Bangladeshi actor-politicians Awami League politicians Actresses in Bengali cinema Bangladeshi expatriate actresses in India Actresses in Hindi cinema Best Actress National Film Awards (Bangladesh) winners 9th Jatiya Sangsad members Women members of the Jatiya Sangsad Meril-Prothom Alo Lifetime Achievement Award winners Best Actress Bachsas Award winners National Film Award (Bangladesh) for Lifetime Achievement recipients Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh 20th-century Bangladeshi actresses 21st-century Bangladeshi women politicians