Nazia Hassan


Nazia Hassan was a Pakistani pop singer-songwriter, lawyer and social activist. She started her music career at the age of 10, and became one of the most prominent singers of Pakistan. She enjoyed widespread popularity across South and Southeast Asia and has been called the "Queen of Pop" in South Asia. She, along with her brother Zoheb Hassan, went on to sell over 65 million records worldwide. Her English language single Disco Deewane made her the first Pakistani singer to make it to the British charts. In the middle of her successful singing career, Hassan earned degrees in economics and law at two prestigious London schools, Richmond, The American International University and the University of London.
Nazia made her singing debut with the 1980 song "Aap Jaisa Koi", which appeared in the Bollywood Indian film Qurbani. Her debut album, Disco Deewane, charted in fourteen countries worldwide and became the best-selling Asian pop record up at the time. This was followed by Boom Boom, Young Tarang, and Hotline which was her last album with Zoheb. Her last album, Camera Camera, was part of a campaign against drugs. Along with her brother, she also appeared in several television programs. In 1988 she appeared in Sung Sung with music maestro Sohail Rana. They also hosted the first-ever pop-music stage show, Music '89, produced by Shoaib Mansoor. Her success played a key role in shaping Pakistani pop music scene.
Through her successful singing career spanning over 15 years, Hassan became one of the Pakistan's most popular celebrities. She received several national and international awards, and at the age of 15 became the first Pakistani to win the Filmfare Award and remains the youngest recipient of the award to date. Hassan was also a recipient of Pakistan's civilian award, Pride of Performance. In addition to singing in films, Hassan also engaged in philanthropic activities, and was appointed by UNICEF as its cultural ambassador in 1991. Hassan died of lung cancer in London on 13 August 2000 at the age of 35.

Early life

Hassan was born in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, and brought up in Karachi and London. She was the daughter of Basir Hassan, a businessman, and Muniza Basir, an active social worker. She was the sister of singers Zoheb Hassan and Zara Hassan.
Hassan received her Bachelor's degree 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, she went on to work for United Nations Security Council. She held a London University Law degree.

Career

Hassan began singing during the 1970s, when she appeared on several television shows on Pakistan Television as a child artist. Her professional music career started at the age of fifteen when she provided the lead vocals for the 1980 song "Aap Jaisa Koi" for the Bollywood film Qurbani. She met film director Feroz Khan at a party in the United Kingdom. Khan later requested that Hassan 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 her being a Pakistani, Hassan gained overnight fame there. In 1981, Hassan won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback for the song.
After Qurbani became a big hit, she collaborated with Biddu on numerous other projects. In 1981, she became the first playback singer to release an album. Her first album was Disco Deewane. The album broke sales records in Pakistan and India and even topped the charts in the West Indies, Latin America and Russia. This album became a mega-hit and Hassan became an established pop singer in Pakistan. The album also had vocals by her brother Zohaib Hassan.
in Mumbai.
After the release of Disco Deewane, Biddu offered Zohaib and her a chance to act in a movie, but they refused and chose singing. Hassan's second album Star/Boom Boom, for which she was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer, was released in 1982. The soundtrack of the album was used in the 1982 film Star. The film did not succeed at the box office, but the album was successful and increased the popularity of Hassan and Zohaib in Pakistan and India. Her 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 Rose and Kathy Rose. The album became one of the most popular in Asia. "Ankhien Milane Wale" was a popular song from the album. After the release of Young Tarang, she returned to singing for Bollywood movies as a playback singer. Her fourth album, Hotline was released in 1987. Aa Haan was the most popular song of the album.
At the end of 1980, she had become the most popular pop singer of Pakistan and India. In 1988, she and her brother Zohaib appeared with music maestro Sohail Rana in his television program, Sung Sung. In the following year, she and Zohaib 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. She hosted another show, Dhanak on PTV in the same year, 1989.
In 1991, Hassan and her brother Zohaib recorded her fifth album, Camera Camera. Before the album's release, she and Zohaib announced that it would be their last album. The album was released in 1992. It was not as successful as her previous albums and received only average reaction. After the album's release, she left her singing career to focus on her personal life. Biddu composed a song, "Made in India" and he wanted Nazia to sing it. But the retired Hassan refused to sing a song that might offend Pakistan. The song was then offered to Alisha Chinai.

Personal life

On 30 March 1995, Nazia Hassan married businessman Mirza Ishtiaq Baig in an Islamic wedding ceremony held in Karachi. This took place after her being diagnosed with cancer. They have a son, Arez Hassan, born on 7 April 1997. The marriage ended in a divorce ten days before Nazia's death.
In an interview later, her brother Zoheb Hassan related that Nazia's personal life was filled with turmoil and she fought personal battles incessantly.

Death

Nazia Hassan fought a long battle with cancer during the last years of her life and 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, 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 Muniza was called to the hospital where her daughter had started coughing heavily at around 9:15 am. She died within minutes. Following a Namaz-e-janaza at Golders Green Crematorium, Nazia was buried at Hendon Cemetery in London per Islamic rites. In an interview with The Express Tribune, her brother Zoheb revealed "She died an unhappy person, she died in pain."

Philanthropy

Hassan used her abilities to promote social causes. She specially worked for children, youth and women in distress residing in the underprivileged areas of Karachi. She supported the Inner Wheel Club of India and helped raise funds for it. In Pakistan, she established the organization BAN and became an active member of organizations such as Voice of Women, National Youth Organisation. She is credited for her part in the introduction of mobile clinics in Lyari Town, to make medicine more accessible to those deprived- and in dire need of it.
Hassan worked with Javed Jabbar, former Information minister, to raise funds for children in Tharparkar and Rajasthan. She went to a very large number of schools to hand out toys to poor children and gave talks on the subject of social awareness for the under privileged. Hassan never forgot the love and support of all the schools and always spoke about them with great affection. 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.
In 1991, she joined the United Nations Security Council at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City 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 take up the offer because around this time she was diagnosed with cancer.

Legacy

scene owes itself to Nazia Hassan's redefinition of pop. Also, the biggest 1990s bands, including the Vital Signs and the Jupiters, got a platform on "Music '89".
Hassan 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 Indi-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 Zohaib were signed by EMI Group and were the first South Asian singers to be signed by an international music company. At the height of Disco Deewane fever, she frequently drew large crowds, such as 50,000 to 100,000 people greeting her at Calcutta Airport.
On 9 March 2002, Nazia Hassan Tribute Concert was held in Karachi, the classic line-up of Vital Signs and Jupiters performed together on stage – for the first time in almost 7 years. The concert was attended by an enthusiastic audience. On 23 March 2002 the Government of Pakistan conferred upon Nazia Hassan the highest civilian award Pride of Performance. The award was presented to Muniza Basir, mother of Nazia Hassan, from the President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf in an official ceremony held at Islamabad.
In 2007, Ahmad Haseeb created the documentary A Music Fairy in a tribute to Hassan which was screened at Kara Film Festival and University of Ankara. In 2009, Director Faraz Waqar paid a tribute to Nazia for her work in music and making Pakistan proud.
Hassan is known as the "Sweetheart of Pakistan". 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.
On 31 October 2014, Global Voices Online named her as "Young, Independent women who made a space for themselves in Pakistan Music Industry". On 9 November 2014, the Delhi Pop line, showed at the TDAP's Aalishan Pakistan fashion show in Delhi paid ode to Nazia Hassan. On 16 November 2014, Coke Studio Pakistan paid a tribute to Nazia Hassan in season seven with the song "Jaana" sung by Zoheb Hassan and Zoe Viccaji. The song was well received by critics and audiences alike. The song was high on the music charts and is popular on music channels and radio stations. On 17 November 2014, Hassan was named as one of ARY News's "one of the 11 female pioneers of Pakistan."

Foundation

In 2003, Hassan’s parents created the Nazia Hassan Foundation to further their daughter’s efforts to make the world a better place for everyone, regardless of caste, creed and religion.
Nazia Hassan Foundation decided to open school for street children would help in the grooming and education of working street children.

Discography

[Filmfare Awards]