Snippets from Kabori’s life in her own words

Kabori, known to all, was a heartthrob in the 60s, 70s, and even in the 80s. Her four decade career in the film industry has been nothing less than eventful.

Throughout the years, she has shared snippets from her past and future plans with readers and audience. 

In a TV show in 2018, Kabori recalled with gratitude that she made her debut into the film industry at the age of 14 with a slap from the late director and hero, Subhash Dutt. She said, "During the shooting of the first day of the film 'Sutorang,' I had to climb a tree in Gulshan Park for a scene. I fell down and got hurt. I was in pain and could not give a proper shot. And then the hero-director Subhash Dutt slapped me. On that day, Meena Pal, a girl from Firingi Bazar in Chattogram, made her film debut. Dutt Da (Subhash Dutt) changed the name of Meena Pal to Kabori."

In a 2011 interview with BBC Bangla, she was asked about the mesmerising Rajjak-Kabori duo. She said, "I understand why our audience loved our performances so much. We used to act with such passion, the love scenes in the films came out authentic and real."

Kabori worked in many films throughout her life but in the interview she said the most memorable movie for her was Ritwik Ghatak's "Titas Ekti Nodir Nam." She also loved working in "Sujon Shokhi," "Bodhu Biday," and "Sareng Bou."

In 2017, Kabori published her autobiography, "Smritituku Thak," and in an interview in 2018, she said she wanted to publish the second part of her book.

In a 2019 interview, Jugantar asked her about an event in her life which she still thinks about. The actress reminisced about the Liberation War days. She said, "There are many incidents, but one incident I cannot forget for a moment, is the time when I fled the country before the Liberation War. I was already a known actress by that time. I fled the country wearing an old torn sari. I was covered with dust and sand. I couldn't think that I was the heroine Kabori. I fled the country to save my life. When I remember this, I burst into tears."

In another 2019 interview with Prothom Alo, Kabori was asked what she got from the world of cinema and she replied, "I got a lot from movies. To explain a little, I will say, I got a new life from the movies. Meena Pal, whom no one knew, is now known to the world as 'Kabori.' A husband took the newly married wife to the cinema and showed her 'Sutorang.' He gave his wife the gift of 'Zarina' (Kabori's character in Sutorang). Meena Pal from Firingi Bazar has reached the Jatiya Sangsad as an MP. What else can I want?"

Kabori breathed her last at 12:20am Saturday, at the Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital.

She caught a fever and tested positive for Covid-19 recently and was hospitalised on 7 April. As her condition deteriorated, doctors put her on life support.

She has been laid to eternal rest at the Banani graveyard in Dhaka, followed by her namaz-e-janaza and state guard of honour.