Kabori: The great heroine of Bangladeshi cinema departs

Dhaka, Apr 17 — The latest celebrity to lose the battle to coronavirus is veteran Bangladeshi actress and former Awami League MP Sarah Begum Kabori. She was 70. The popular actress passed away at 12.20 am at Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital in Dhaka on Friday, her son Shaker Chishti told reporters. She was on life support at the hospital since April 15.
Kabori had recently tested positive for Covid-19. Initially, she was admitted to the capital’s Kurmitola General Hospital but was later shifted to Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute & Hospital after her condition deteriorated.
The veteran actress, who received the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the film Sareng Bou (1978), stepped into the field of cinema as an amateur artiste at the age of 13.
In 1964, Kabori made her debut with Subhash Dutta’s film Sutorang. During her chequered career, she worked with several actors, including Farooque, Bulbul Ahmed, Razzak, Alamgir, Sohel Rana, Ujjal, Wasim, Khan Ataur Rahman, Golam Mustafa, Anwar Hossain and ATM Shamsuzzaman.
She also acted in Titash Ekti Nadir Naam directed by Ritwik Ghatak, an Indian filmmaker, and appeared in Urdu film Bahana made by Zahir Raihan.
Noted Works of Kabori
Apart from Sutorang and Bahana, she acted in many popular films — Jolchhobi, Sat Bhai Champa, Abirbhab, Deep Nebhe Nai, Apon Por, Lalon Fokir, Titash Ekti Nadir Naam, Sujon Sokhi, Nil Akasher Niche, Sareng Bou, Kanch Kata Heera, Arun Borun Kiranmala, Devdas and Dui Jibon to name a few.
Awards
She received many awards, including Bachsas Award for Best Actress for her performances in Dui Jibon, Lalon Fakir, Sujon Sokhi and Sareng Bou. She also got Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Politics
In 2008, Kabori was elected as a member of parliament from the Narayanganj-4 constituency on an Awami League ticket.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday expressed deep shock and sorrow at her demise. “Her contribution to politics and the cultural arena besides film will be remembered,” she said in a condolence message.
The PM also prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family. – UNB