Nazia Hassan

Nazia Hassan, PP (Urdu: نازیہ حسن‎) (born April 3, 1965 – August 13, 2000) was an iconic Pakistani pop singer. Her song, "Aap Jaisa Koi", from the Indian film Qurbani (1980) made her a legend and pop icon in Pakistan and all of South Asia in the 1980s, where she is admired and loved even today, years after her death. Her debut album, Disco Deewane(1981), also charted in fourteen countries worldwide and became the best-selling Asian pop record up until that time. Nazia Hassan, along with her brother Zohaib Hassan, went on to sell over 60 million records worldwide.

Nazia was the first Pakistani to win a Filmfare Award and remains the youngest winner of a Filmfare Award in the category of Best Female Playback Singer to date when she was 15. Hassan is a recipient for the Pride of Performance, Double Platinum Award and Golden Discs Awards. Nazia was well-known for her charitable work in many countries, particularly in Pakistan and remains one of the most famous and influential Pakistanis of any era.

In 2007, Ahmad Haseeb created a documentary A Music Fairy in a tribute to Nazia Hassan which was screened at Kara Film Festival and University of Ankara.

Early life & Education

Nazia Hassan was born into a Muslim family in Karachi, Pakistan and brought up in Karachi and London. She is the sister of singer Zoheb Hassan and Zara Hassan.

She received her bachelors in Business Administration and Economics at the Richmond American University in London. In 1991, she became an intern in the Women’s International Leadership program at the United Nations. Later on she went on to work for United Nation’s office of Political and Security Council Affairs. Nazia Hassan held a London University law degree (LLB).

Career

1975–1980: Beginning

Nazia began singing during the late 1970s, when she appeared on several television shows on PTV as a child artist. Her professional career started at the age of fifteen when she provided the lead vocals for the song Aap Jaisa Koi from the 1980 film Qurbani. Nazia met the film's director Feroz Khan at a party in the United Kingdom. Khan later requested Hassan have an audition with Biddu, a London-based Indian music composer. Biddu then signed her up for Aap Jaisa Koi, the song he composed for Qurbani.

The song was a huge success in India and despite Nazia being a Pakistani, she gained overnight fame there. In 1981, Nazia won theFilmfare Award for Best Female Playback for Aap Jaisa Koi.

1981–1987: Pop music

Nazia (right) with her brother Zoheb Hassan.

After the success of Aap Jaisa Koi, Qurbani became a big hit and Nazia collaborated with Biddu on numerous other projects. In 1981, Nazia became the first playback singer to release an album. Her first album was Disco Deewane. The album broke record sales in Pakistan and India and even topped the charts in the West Indies, Latin America and Russia. This album became a mega-hit and Nazia became an established pop singer in Pakistan. The album also had vocals by her brother, Zohaib Hassan.

After the release of Disco Deewane, Nazia and Zoheb were offered the chance to act in a movie by Biddu, but they refused to act and chose singing. Nazia's second albumStar/Boom Boom was released in 1982 for which she was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. The soundtrack of the album was used in the movie Star. The film did not do well at the box office but the album was successful and increased the popularity of Nazia and her brother Zoheb in Pakistan and India.

Nazia's third album, Young Tarang was released in 1984. It was the first album in Pakistan to feature music videos, which were made in London by David & Kathy Rose. The album became Nazia's most famous and one of the most popular in Asia. Ankhien Milane Walewas the most popular song of the album. After the release of Young Tarang, Nazia returned to singing for Bollywood movies as a playback singer.

Nazia's fourth album, Hotline was released in 1987. Aa Haan was the most popular song of the album.

1989–1992: Music '89, Camera Camera & retirement

By the end of the 1980s, Nazia had become the most popular pop singer of Pakistan. In 1988, Nazia and her brother Zoheb appeared with music maestro Sohail Rana in his television program, Sung Sung. In the following year, Nazia and Zoheb hosted the groundbreaking show Music '89. The show was produced by Shoaib Mansoor. It was the first-ever all pop-music stage show to be aired on television. The show launched the careers of many new rising bands and singers and became popular in Pakistan. Nazia hosted another show, Dhanak on PTV in the same year, 1989.

In 1991, Nazia and her brother Zoheb recorded her fifth album, Camera Camera. Before the album's release, Nazia and Zoheb announced during a launching ceremony that it would be their last album. The album was released in 1992. It was not as successful as Nazia's previous albums and received only average reaction. After the album's release, Nazia left her singing career to focus on her personal life.

In 1991, she joined the Department of Political and Security Council Affairs at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and worked there for two years. In her third year, she offered her services at UNICEF. Her social and academic excellence won her a scholarship in Columbia University’s Leadership Program, but she was unable to avail it because around this time she was diagnosed with cancer.

The composer of her albums, Biddu composed a song, Made in India and he wanted Nazia to sing it. But the retired Nazia refused to sing a song that might offend Pakistan. The song was then offered to Alisha Chinai.

Legacy

Pakistan's vibrant contemporary music scene owes itself to Nazia Hassan's redefinition of pop. In fact, the biggest 1990s bands, including the Vital Signs and the Jupiters, got a platform on "Music '89".

Nazia also had a seismic impact in India. "India Today" magazine voted her as one of the top 50 people who helped change the face of India. She has contributed to the development of the present isomorphism of Bollywood music and pop: “She set – well ahead of its time – the personal album trend in India, spawning the likes of Alisha Chinai, Lucky Ali and Shweta Shetty", the magazine noted at the time. After the huge success of their music, Nazia and Zoheb were signed by EMI Group and were the first South Asian singers to be signed by an international music company.

Nazia used her iconic status to promote social causes. All the money earned from music was spent on charity. She relentlessly worked for special children and for youth and women in distress residing in the underprivileged areas of Karachi. Nazia supported the “Inner Wheel Club” of India and helped raise funds for them. In Pakistan, she established the organization “BAN” (Battle Against Narcotics) and became an active member of organizations such as Voice of Women, National Youth Council of Pakistan, etc.

Nazia with Biddhu in Mumbai.

Nazia worked with Javed Jabbar, former Information Minister, to raise funds for children in Rajasthan. She went to a very large number of schools to collect toys for poor children and gave talks on the subject of social awareness for the under privileged. Nazia never forgot the love and support of all the schools and always spoke with great affection for them. The worthy staff and the students of St Joseph's Convent School, Mama Parsi School and many others had gone out of their way to help the cause.

Surprisingly, music was only a hobby for Nazia and though her achievements in this field were anyone’s dream come true, she lived away from the glitzy world and led a secluded and simple life. She completed her education in the UK, got a law degree and then worked in the United Nations in the Security Council. Nazia continued her social work even in New York and worked for children from UN platform.

She is known as the Sweetheart of Pakistan. Nazia Hassan is still the symbol of grace, sacred beauty and innocence and is frequently compared to Princess Diana, as she was known to possess a heart of gold. Nazia spent her teenage years between Karachi and London.

Using her celebrity status in Pakistan, she created an organization called BAN (Battle against Narcotics) in Karachi to help fight the drugs war. She and her brother Zoheb dedicated their album Camera Camera to BAN and hoped to create drug abuse awareness among the Pakistani youths.

Nazia also actively participated in organizations such as The Voice of Women, Business and Professional Women, Inner Wheel Club for Disabled Children in India and National Youth Leadership Council Pakistan. She created and participated in many child welfare programs in Pakistan and was involved in social issues ranging from women’s issues to illiteracy among the youth. She tried to use her music to stir up people’s emotions against the use of drugs. The song ‘Nasha Na Karna’ (Don’t do drugs) was an example of the message Nazia and Zoheb were sending out. Nazia Hassan also created a mobile clinic in Lyari, one of the poorest areas in Karachi.

Nazia is still loved and revered by millions of people in Pakistan, the rest of the sub-continent and numerous locations world-wide including South America, the Gulf, Europe and the United States. She had talent and appeal that truly crossed all boundaries.

Personal life

Nazia was the daughter of a well-known businessman Mr. Basir Hassan and an active social worker, Mrs. Munizeh Basir. She had two siblings, a brother Zohaib and a sister Zahra, both of whom became singers. Nazia was married on 30 March 1995 to Mirza Ishtiaq Baig but they divorced ten days before her death. They had a son, Arez, on 7 April 1997.

Death

Nazia died of lung cancer in London on 13 August 2000 at the age of 35. She had been admitted to North London Hospice in London N12 three days earlier when her condition deteriorated. She showed signs of mild recovery the day before she died and it was thought that doctors would allow her to go home. But early Sunday morning, her mother, Muneeza Hasan, was called to the hospital where her daughter had started coughing heavily at around 9:15 am. She died within minutes. Nazia is buried at Hendon Cemetery (MuslimSection) in London NW7. In an interview, her brother revealed that she died as an unhappy person.

The Government of Pakistan has conferred upon Nazia Hassan the highest civilian award Pride of Performance. The award was presented to Mrs. Muniza Basir, mother of Nazia Hassan, by the President of Pakistan in an official ceremony held at Islamabad on 23 March 2002.

Foundation

In 2003, Nazia’s parents created the Nazia Hassan Foundation to further their daughter’s efforts to make this world a better place for everyone, irrespective of religion, caste or creed.

Discography

Films

• Qurbani (1980 film) (1980) 
• Aap Jaisa Koi
• Disco Deewane (1981) 
• Disco Deewane
• Aao Na 
• Lakin Mera Dil 
• Mujhay Chahie 
• Komal Komal 
• Tere Qadmon Ko 
• Dil Mera 
• Dhundli Raat 
• Gaien Mil Ker 
• Disco Deewane (Part II) 
• Our Love Last Forever (1981) 
• Our Love Last Forever 
• In Time We Need 
• Get a little Closer (1982) 
• Get a little Closer 
• One too Many 
• Star/Boom Boom (1982) 
• Boom Boom 
• Ooee Ooee 
• Jana 
• Zindagi 
• Muskuraye Ja 
• Star 
• Dheree Dheree 
• Boom Boom (Part II) 
• Koi Nahi 
• Nigahon Se Durr 
• Dreamer Devane (1983) 
• Dreamer Devane 
• Destiny 
• Get a little Closer (Remix)
• Young Tarang (1984)
• Aag 
• Dum Dum Dede 
• Chera 
• Kya Howa 
• Dosti 
• Ashanti 
• Sunn 
• Medlay 
• Ankhien Milane Wale 
• Pyar Ka Jadu 
• Dil Wala (1986) 
• Tonight Pyar Karo 
• Ilzaam (1986) 
• Main Aya Tere Liye 
• Adhikar (1986) 
• Laher Laher Chanchel Howi 
• Main Bulwan (1986) 
• Rock 'N' Roll 
• Hulla Gulla Karien Hum 
• Sheela (1987) 
• Sheela O' My Sheela 
• Takta Mani Mana 
• Hotline (1987) 
• Telephone Pyar 
• Hum aur Tum 
• Soja 
• Aan Haan 
• Khobsorat 
• Teri Yaad 
• Paisa 
• Dharti Hamari 
• Kaam Kaam 
• Ajnabi 
• Number Ek 
• Hamaisha 
• Saffron (1988) 
• Then He Kissed Me 
• Then He Kissed Me (Radio Edit) 
• Bhangra Beat 
• Saaya (1989) 
• Shukriya 
• Dhanak (1989) 
• Tere Saye Mein 
• Guzer Rahi Hai 
• Ana Ankhon Mein 
• Kabhi Tu Tumko 
• Mil Jul Kay 
• Bol Kay Lab 
• Kaliyan (1990) 
• Atom Bomb 
• Shadi 
• Gari Ka Phaiya 
• Tik Tik 
• Camera Camera (1992) 
• Camera Camera 
• Wala Wai 
• Tali Thay Thale 
• Mama Papa 
• Keon 
• If 
• Meherbani 
• Aaj Nahin tu Kal 
• Nasha 
• Pyar Ka Geet 
• Dil Ke Lagi 
• Camera Camera (Dance Mix) 
• If You could 
• Pro Audio Show (1995) 
• Ankhien Band Karo - A song for UNICEF 
• Boom Boom - The Biddu Experience (Remix Album) 
• Boom Boom 
• Star 
• Koi Nahin 
• Jana 
• Khushi 
• Dheree Dheree 
• Muskuraye Ja 
• Ooee Ooee 
• Student of the Year (2012) 
• The Disco Song
• Miss Lovely (2014) 
• Dum Dum Dede 

Television appearances

• Kaliyon Ke Mala (1975) – Appearance as a child artist – Nazia Hassan sung Dosti Asa Naata 
• Sang Sang Chalien (1977) – Appearance as a child artist 
• Disco Deewane (BBC Show 1981) 
• Disco Deewane (DD 1 1981) 
• BBC News (1981) 
• Zia Moh-u-Din Show (Channel 4 1981) 
• David Soul (1981) 
• David Essex (1981) 
• Young Tarang Show (DD 1 1984) 
• Aap Ke Liye (PTV 1985) 
• PTV Election Transmission (1985) 
• Show Time (PTV 1986) 
• Yes Sir No Sir (PTV 1987) 
• TV Hits (1987) 
• BBC Show (1987) 
• PTV Awards (1988) 
• Then He Kissed ME (1988) 
• Music '89 (1989); Hosted by Nazia Hassan & Zoheb Hassan 
• Dhanak (1989); Hosted by Nazia Hassan 
• PTV 25 (1990) 
• Mehman-i-Khasosi (1990) 
• Studio 2 (1990) 
• Eid Show (1992) 
• Eye Witness (1993) 
• Kaliyan (1990–1991) 
• Pro Audio Show (1995) 
• Nawrang (1995); Hosted by Nazia Hassan and Dr. Farooq Baig 
• Sawaire Sawaire (PTV 1997) 

TV commercials 

• Sitara Sapna Lawn (1986) 
• Lipton (1990) 
• Lipton (1991) 
• Lipton (1992) 

Documentary

• A Music Fairy; A Tribute to Nazia Hassan by Ahmad Haseeb

Awards

• Filmfare Best Female Playback Award
• Double Platinum
• Platinum
• Golden Discs
• Pride of Performance

MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE

Posted in: Showbiz,Singer