getPakistan.com: Looking Back at Nazia Hasan

Looking Back

Nazia Hassan

Noted singer Nazia Hassan died in London on Sunday. She was 35. She had been suffering from cancer for many years. Nazia shot into limelight with PTV's Sang Sang programme which also featured her brother Zohaib.
The two had received their education in London, and studied singing and music there. They had credit for popularizing pop style of singing in Pakistan.

Nazia's album Disco Deewany became highly popular, creating history as far as its sale in the country was concerned. She had always been found saying that music was an integral part of her being.

In 1995, she got married to Ishtiaq Beg, a businessman. Their three-year-old son Areez had been with Nazia till her last days.

"It has saddened me," said Noor Jehan, adding that Nazia was a highly talented artist.

While talking to The News, Biddu, the Indian musician who introduced Nazia to the world of music, said he was devastated. He said he couldn't believe that such a fresh voice and a friend had gone.

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"Nazia was very worried about her married life, custody of the child but had expressed her determination to fight the disease. It's very hard to believe that I won't see her again."

Nazia was the first British Asian girl of Pakistani origin to make an impact on the Bollywood music industry apart from altogether sweeping the Pakistani pop scene. she was the first real pop star of the Indian music.

Gifted as she was, Nazia sprang into stardom with her Indian film (Qurbani) song "Aap Jesa Koyi Meri Zindagi Mein Aaye". The song was followed by another hit "Disco Deewane" which took the young generation of the sub-continent by storm. The true fame came Nazia and her brother Zohaib's way with their electrifying songs on the Indian film "Star'.

Nazia Hassan and Zohaib Hassan, who formed a perfect duo together, then traveled to Pakistan in early 80's and released their first Volume 'Young Tarang'. The volume contained famous songs like "Dum Dum Dee Dee Dum Dum". The volume was followed by a few more, which took their graph further up with several hit songs. They, along with Alamgir and Muhammad Ali Shahki, could be called the trend-setters of disco music in Pakistan.

In 1987, EMI released a volume 'Hotline' featuring Nazia and Zohaib. It contained popular songs "Hum Aur Tum, Tum or Hum' and "Aisa Kya Hai Paisa'. The brother and sister also made several appearances on Pakistan Television. Besides performing in 'Silver Jubilee', the popular star show compered by Anwar Maqsood, Nazia and Zohaib also performed in a special show, again having Anwar Maqsood as compere.

Their last volume was "Camera Camera" (released in early 90's), which consisted of such popular and melodious songs as "Taali De Thale Beh Kay". The song was also presented by the Pakistan Television and it starred garlanded Nazia singing in a joyous spring mood.

Considered the pioneers of pop music in Pakistan, this brother and sister duet started out at a young age and had been rocking Pakistan until a couple of years back when they both decided to call it a day. Rumors have it however that they are both back in business, and plan to release both solo and duet tracks in the near future, but it did not happened.

Albums: Disco deewane, Camera camera, Hot line, Boom boom, Young tarang, Tonite