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 a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Kabori got involved in 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. She was also an active social worker and women's rights activist. Several film festivals were sponsored by her. [citation needed]
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 into a cultural family. Her siblings knew how to dance and sing. And her brother could play the tabla.
Film career
Subhash Dutta and Kabori in the film set "Sutorang" (1964)
Kabori debuted in the 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).
In 2008, Kabori was elected to the National Parliament in Bangladesh from Narayanganj-4 for the 9th Bangladesh Parliament. During the 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 has 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.
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