KABARI SARWAR

Film Career

Kabari Sarwar started her film career in 1964 at the age of 13. Her debut film was ‘Sutorang’ where she played the role of Jarina. The film was directed by Subhash Dutta and he was also the co-artist of her. She got the opportunity through the music director Satya Saha. The film was based on a love story of a young couple in a village. Both the young boy and girl fall in love with each other but unfortunately separate when the boy goes to earn money in town and the girl becomes forced to marry another guy. Next year, Kabari appeared in an Urdu film named ‘Bahana’ along with Rahman and Garaj Babu. The film was directed by Zahir Raihan and released in 1965. 
In 1967, Kabari appeared in four films in the same year. All of her films titled Heeraramon, Momir Elo, Sat Bhai Champa, and Bashori got huge appreciation from the audience. In the film ‘Heeraramon’, she starred with Anwara, Siraj, S. Akbar, Sadiq Nabi, and so on. ‘Momir Elo’ was another megahit film directed by Kazi Khaliq. There, she worked with a bundle of famous personalities such as Razzak, Anwar, Siraj, Jalil, Wahida, Chitra, and so on. In the film ‘Bashori’ directed by Abdul Jabbar Khan, she played the role of Radha along with famous actor Razzak. ‘Sat Bhai Champa’ was also released that year which became a superhit movie of the year. The film was based on the concept of a folktale directed by Khan Ataur Rahman. Kabari starred in the film with Raj, K. A. Khan, Azim, and Attiya. She played the lead role in the film.
Next year, Kabari came back with another three superhit movies named Abirbhab, Arun Barun Kiranmala, and Soeey Nadya Jage Pani. The film ‘Abirbhab’ was directed by Subhash Dutta and Kabari acted with her co-artist Razzak. ‘Soeey Nadya Jage Pani’ was her other hit film in which she appeared with some famous names in the film industry like Rosy Afsari, Syed Hasan Imam, and Jalil Afghani. The film was directed by well-known director Khan Ataur Rahman. 
In 1969, Kabari appeared on the silver screen with a popular film named ‘Nil Akasher Niche’ with the co-artist Razzak. She also acted in ‘Moina Moti’ directed by Qazi Zaheer in the same year.
After that year, in 1970, Kabari returned back to back with another nine superhit films. Deep Nebhe Nai, Dorpo Churno, Binimoy, Jey Aguney Puri, Nayika, Ka Kha Ga Gha Umo, Sontan, Kanch Kata Heera, and Aka Baka. She starred with Razzak in the films Deep Nebhe Nai, Aka Baka, and Kanch Kata Heera that year. She also worked with some famous directors such as Amir Hossain in the film ‘Jey Agune Puri’, U. Chowdhury in the film ‘Nayika’, Narayan Ghosh Mita in ‘Ka Kha Ga Gha Uma’, and E. R. Khan in the film ‘Sontan’. 
In 1971, during the Liberation War of Bangladesh, two of Kabari’s films were released, ‘Jai Bangladesh’ and ‘Jolchobi’.  Both of them are based on the concept of patriotism. Among them, Jai Bangladesh was Kabari’s first Hindi film directed by I. S. Johar. This whole movie was shot in Mumbai, India. Next year, Kabari acted in another film named ‘Apon Por’ directed by Khan Ataur Rahman. 
Later, Kabari appeared in a bunch of phenomenon films such as Lalon Fakir, Rangbaz, Titash Ekti Nadir Naam, Amar Jonmobhumi, Masud Rana, Shadharon Meye, Sujon Sokhi, Love In Simla, Moti Mohol, Devdas, Sareng Bou and Dui Jibon. Among them, ‘Titash Ekti Nadir Naam’ was an India-Bengali Film with joint production between Bangladesh and India directed by an Indian filmmaker, Ritwik Ghatak. The story of the film was based on a novel written by Adwaita Mallabarman. It explored the fishermen’s lives living on the banks of the Titash River in Brahmanbaria. The film ‘Lalon Fakir’ was one of her prominent films directed by Syed Hasan Imam in 1973. Lalon was a famous Bengali Philosopher, Baul Saint, author, mystic, thinker, social reformer, and songwriter. His life was the key concept of the film.
In her successful acting career, Kabari worked with a number of renowned personalities. If truth be told, Kabari was the first heroine of a lot of renowned names such as Razzak, Farooqe, and so on. She appeared with Razzak in more than twenty films together. Kabari starred with Farooqe in several films such as Jolchhobi, Sujon Sakhi, and Sareng Bou as well. Among them, Sareng Bou was one of her prominent films directed by Abdullah Al Mamun. The story of the film was based on a novel written by Shahidullah Kaiser. People living in the coastal areas and their lives were the main theme of the story. On the other hand, Sujon Sakhi was a film directed by Khan Ataur Rahman based on the conflict between two brothers. But later, their respective children unite them again. 
Kabari also acted with Bulbul Ahmed in Abdullah Al Mamun’s ‘Dui Jibon’ and Chashi Nazrul Islam’s ‘Devdas’. Among them, Devdas was the Bengali Language film where she played the role of Parboti. The concept was based on the novel by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay. It was the first color film version in Bangladesh. Besides, she also appeared on the silver screen with multiple famous actors such as Sohel Rana, Alamgir, Uzzal, Khan Ataur Rahman, Wasim, Anwar Hossain, Golam Mustafa, and A.T.M. Shamsuzzaman.
In 2006, Kabari came to the limelight through the film ‘Ayna’ directed by herself. Sohana Saba, Arjumand Ara Bokul, and Ferdous Ahmed starred in the film. She even penned the concept and screenplay of the film. The story was based on a woman who was forced to beat into shape an independent life of her own. Besides acting and directing, she even produced a film titled ‘Balaka Mon’ in 1973.
In 2017, Kabari penned her autobiography titled “Smritituku Thaak”. The title of her book was coined from her 1976 film of the same name. A foreword for the book was written by popular poet Nirmalendu Goon. The book was uncovered on 24 February 2017 and published by BPL. “Smritituku Thaak” was first launched at the Ekushey Book Fair at the publisher’s booth. This incredible actress has measured her whole journey with her fans through the book. 

Political Career

In 2008, Kabari was elected from Narayanganj-4 to the National Parliament for the 9th Bangladesh Parliament. On 25 January 2009, she officially started her political career. As a member of Parliament, she was preceded by Muhammad Gias Uddin and succeeded by Shamim Osman. On 20 November 2013, she ended her triumphant political career. Then she continued her journey as a writer and social worker.

Filmography 

• Sutorang (1964)
• Momir Elo (1967)
• Heeraramon (1967)
• Sat Bhai Champa (1967)
• Bashori (1967)
• Arun Barun Kiranmala (1968)
• Abirbhab (1968)
• Soeey Nadya Jage Pani (1968)
• Moina Moti (1969)
• Nil Akasher Niche (1969)
• Binimoy (1970)
• Deep Nebhe Nai (1970)
• Dorpo Churno (1970)
• Ka Kha Ga Gha Uma (1970)
• Jey Aguney Puri (1970)
• Sontan (1970)
• Nayika (1970)
• Aka Baka (1970)
• Kanch Kata Heera (1970)
• Jolchobi (1971)
• Apon Por (1972)
• Rangbaz (1973)
• Lalon Fokir (1973)
• Titash Eti Nadir Naam (1973)
• Amar Jonmobhumi (1973)
• Shadharon Meye (1974)
• Masud Rana (1974)
• Sujon Sakhi ((1975)
• Moti Mohol (1977)
• Love In Simla (1977)
• Sareng Bou (1978)
• Devdas (1982)
• Dui Jibon (1988)

Filmography (Hindi)

• Jai Bangladesh (1971)

Filmography (Urdu)

• Bahana

As Director 

• Ayna (2006)

As Producer

• Balaka Mon (1973)

Bibliography 

Smritituku Thaak

Member of Parliament (In Office)

• 25 January 2009 – 20 November 2013
• Preceded by: Muhammad Gias Uddin
• Succeeded by: Shamim Osman
• Constituency: Narayanganj-4