The first death anniversary of legendary film actress Sarah Begum Kabori is being observed today. The National Film Award-winning actress died on this day last year.
Kabori, who was born on July 19, 1950 in Chattogram and started her acting career at the age of 14 with renowned filmmaker Subhas Dutta’s ‘Shutorang’ in 1964.
She worked with several noted actors, including, Farooque, Bulbul Ahmed, Razzak, Alamgir, Sohel Rana, Ujjal, Wasim, Khan Ataur Rahman, Golam Mustafa, Anwar Hossain and ATM Shamsuzzaman.
But, the movies in which she paired up with Nayok Raj Razzak became classics in the history of Bangladeshi cinema.
She made her mark in many films, including, ‘Neel Akasher Neeche’, ‘Mainamati’, ‘Dheu-er Por Dheu’, ‘Porichoy’, ‘Odhikar', ‘Beiman’, ‘Abak Prithibi’, ‘Sonali Akash’, ‘Deep Nebhe Nai’, ‘Bahana’, ‘Heeramon’, ‘Nishi Holo Bhor’, ‘Abirbhab’, ‘Titash Ekti Nodir Naam’, ‘Sareng Bou’, ‘Shujon Shokhi’, ‘Koto Je Minoti’, ‘Kach Kata Hire’, ‘Rong Baaz’, ‘Bodhu Biday’, ‘Masud Rana’ and ‘Devdas’.
In 1971, Kabori went to Kolkata where she played an important role in creating public opinion in favour of Bangladesh's independence. She spoke at various events and organised cultural programmes.
After returning to the new-born country, her focus turned to acting in films.
Kabori received the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the film Sareng Bou (1978).
She made her directorial debut in 2006 with the film ‘Aina’. She later began working on ‘Ei Tumi Se Tumi’, her second film as director, with a grant from the government in fiscal year 2018-2019 but has left it unfinished.
She was elected as a member of parliament from the Narayanganj-4 constituency as Awami League politician in 2008 and served until 2014.