Actress Kabori's memoirs launched at Ekushey Book Fair

Actress Sarah Begum Kabori, whose reign in the country’s silver screen spanned decades through her many roles as filmdom’s premier actress, has come forth with her memoir 'Smriti Tuku Thaak' for millions of her fans and well-wishers across the country.

After a brief stint in politics, she is now into a new career as a teacher, But that has not dimmed people's affection for her and their curiosity about her life and career.

The book, a venture of bdnews24 Publishing Limited (bpl), was launched on Saturday at a ceremony at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, where the presence of the cinema idol lent a sense of old time romance and nostalgia to the occasion.

The unannounced attendance of Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon at the programme was one more reminder of the enduring appeal of Kabori as an artiste.

"Kabori was the heartthrob of our time. We still carry memories of what she symbolised for our generation," said Menon, a former Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) vice-president  and student leader of the 1960s.

At the ceremony, Kabori, visibly moved by the occasion and at a loss for words, said, "What more can I say? You know what is going through my mind. I know that my viewers, the audience, who love me, know the words that have come to my mind."     

"I was by your side; I will be in future," Kabori said, requesting all to buy her book.

"You can't learn anything without reading books. Books can take you to beautiful places and help you spend the time; it relieves you of your sorrows, teaches many new things," she said.  

Kabori, known as the ‘mishti meye’ – sweet damsel – of Bangla cinema, has long been a household name in Bangladesh. She has been, naturally, an artiste and with that has come to her role as a political activist.

She has served a term in Parliament as an elected lawmaker, and that role was symbolic of the transformation that has come into the lives of women. And that is not all.

Kabori happens to be an intrinsic part of Bangladesh’s political history as well, given that she played a prominent role in the War of Liberation in 1971.

There is richness in Smriti Tuku Thaak. It is the story of the young Meena Pal, of her beginnings at Firingi Bazar in Chittagong, of her dreams of teaching in school. The story branches out into larger areas, with her account of her bitter experience as a politician in Narayanganj, with her reflections on her relationships with the Osman family into which clan she was once married. It speaks of the waves that have carried her from shore to shore, indeed to newer horizons.

Of Smriti Tuku Thaak, the poet Nirmalendu Goon writes, “While going through the manuscript of the memoirs of the legendary actress Kabori; I was struck by the thought that I was reading the autobiography of a poet.”

Quoting the poet, bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi said at the book launch, "I have nothing more to say."

"This writing of actress Kabori is not only about her life, it's also an authentic document of the struggle for the cultural freedom of East Bengal, the struggle of Bangla cinema to be free of the influence of Pakistani cinema," Khalidi said, again quoting from Goon, "We hope you will read the book."

Once moony about Kabori, Menon spoke of his interest in the book.

"Our film industry, where its progress is concerned, has been in jeopardy, at least to some extent. Now we will find again the old feel of Bangla cinema in this book," he said. 

In the view of Mahfuzur Rahman, the national award winning cinematographer, "The book looks fine. It surely promises to be a good read."

Expatriate artist Monirul Islam noted, "Kabori is Kabori! I admire her very much as a person. She lives a simple life. That cinema artistes are different kinds of people has been a generally held idea. But Kabori’s innocence and smile are great and make her stand out!"

Thanking bdnews24 publishing house bpl for the beautiful design, he said, "A work on fifty years of dedication to her work by Kabori…that's a great thing. It could have been a larger book, but everything has been included in it in simple form. She brings honesty into telling us about her fifty-year span of works."

Kabori came to the Suhrawardy Udyan section of the fair after 4pm and walked to the book launch ceremony, with a huge crowd of fans following her.

Before the unveiling of the cover of the book, a large crowd gathered around the actress. Many wanted to take snapshots with their favourite actress while many others simply wished to have a word with her.

Artist Romana Ahmed, former diplomat Shafiullah, former ambassador Nasim Ferdous, Finance Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, University of Information Technology and Science (UITS) Vice-Chancellor Dr Md Solaiman, bpl Director Gazi Nasiruddin Ahmed Khokan, and bdnews24.com Head of Corporate Affairs Rasna Hasan were present at the book launch.

Veteran film journalist and daily Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar sent a message expressing regrets over his failure to attend the launch.

"Kabori achieved fame in the country and abroad. She has also taken part in social service as a member of Parliament," he said.

The Samakal editor said he was in Sirajganj to attend a programme commemorating the newspaper's correspondent Abdul Hakim Shimul, who was shot dead while covering clashes between two factions of the ruling Awami League in Shahzadpur.

The crowd around Kabori

Pallabi's Habibullah Shaheen came to the programme, telling stories of Kabori to his daughter Nafisa Habib.

"I went to a cinema hall for the first time with my elder sister when I was a student of Tomaltola Primary School in Sirajganj. I watched many movies of the Razzak-Kabori pair after that," he told bdnews24.com.

Habibullah said he also admired the politician Kabori. His evaluation was: "She did politics honestly. That's why my affection to her grew more."

"That smile of the sweet maiden...it is still there," said a smiling Habibullah. His daughter also smiled. 

After the launch ceremony, Kabori visited the bpl stall. Her presence caused a big crowd to descend on the place. She also gave autographs to the enthusiastic readers there. 

BNP Standing Committee Member and former law minister Moudud Ahmed turned up at the stall. He spoke to the actress and also took an autograph from her.

Kabori recalled Moudud's marriage ceremony. "It was me who dressed Hasna (Moudud's wife and Palli Kabi Jasimuddin's daughter) in her wedding saree," Kabori recalled. 

UITS students Rony, Rifat, and Sara bought copies of their teacher's work.

"I've lost count how many times I watched Rangbaz and Sareng Bou," Sara said.  

Little girl Nabila from Mirpur heard songs lisped by Kabori from her mother. She was very delighted to see in person the person she once saw on screen.

Nirjhara Barua Sima was overjoyed as Kabori took the girl on to her lap.

"She (Kabori) told me that I am very naughty...and said I have a sharp look," she said.

The memoirs

As a spokesperson of bpl, publishers of the actress’ memoirs, would have us know, the first movie in which Kabori acted and which assured her a place in the history of Bengali cinema was Shutorang in 1964. Then a teenager, Kabori was picked by the renowned auteur Subhas Dutta. The book will also contain some rare photographs of the legendary actress coupled with a number of anecdotes she relates about her life and career.

Shutorang was to be only the beginning of a long half-century career in filmdom for Kabori, who would go on to act in as many as two hundred movies. She remains the proud actress who has had the honour of being paired with the top five leading men in the country’s film industry.

Speaking to bdnews24.com earlier, Kabori let it be known that she thought it important that people know of certain unknown facts related to her life. In the revealing memoirs, the actress speaks of the first shot in Shutorang, where the scene of a slap landing across her face sends her rolling in tears. She notes too, with that twinkle in the eye, the early flush of love making inroads in her teenage heart.

There is more. The book touches on the story of the long Kabori-Razzaq pair in Bangladesh’s cinema and at the same time focuses on Razzaq’s place in the real life of the actress. Kabori goes no-holds-barred in her reflections on her relations with Razzak. “We have worked together in movies, so it is was natural that friendship would blossom between us and it did. But Razzak has always been envious of me. I don’t know if I was envious of him. But I did give him a place in my life which was a step more than friendship.”

Such Kabori-Razzak starrers as Neel Akasher Neeche, Mainamati, Dheu-er Por Dheu, Porichoy, Odhikar, Beiman, Abak Prithibi, Sonali Akash, Anirban, Deep Nebhe Nai were received cheerfully by audiences, which in later times also saw the pair in the role of ageing parents in Amader Shontan.

All these years after playing her many roles on the silver screen, Kabori today poses a question to herself: Was the love between the leading man and leading lady in the movies no more than make-believe?

Kabori’s screen career advanced a good step further with the 1973 movie Rangbaj, where the Sabina Yasmin song, shey je keno elo na kichhu bhalo laage na, lisped by her yet creates thrills among music aficionados in Bangladesh.

And Kabori as director? In 2006, Aina, the first film she directed, hit the screen. Of late, Kabori has been serving as a guest lecturer at UITS.