Nazia Hassan

Nazia Hassan
Hassan at an event for UNICEF in 1991
Background information
Birth name	Nazia Hassan
Born	(1965-04-03)3 April 1965[1] Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Died	13 August 2000(2000-08-13) (aged 35)[1] London, England, UK
Genres	Pop, Pakistani pop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocal
Years active	1980–1992
Labels	EMI Records

Nazia Hassan (3 April 1965 – 13 August 2000)^[1] was a Pakistani pop singer-songwriter, lawyer and social activist. A graduate of the Richmond American University and University of London, she started her music career at the age of 10, and became one of the most prominent singers in Pakistan and India. She has been termed as the "Queen of Pop" in South Asia.^[2] She, along with her brother Zoheb Hassan, went on to sell over 60 million records worldwide.^[3] Her English language single Dreamer Deewane made her the first Pakistani singer to make it to the British charts.^[4]

Hassan made her singing debut with the song "Aap Jaisa Koi", from the Indian film Qurbani (1980). Her debut album, Disco Deewane (1981), charted in fourteen countries worldwide and became the best-selling Asian pop record up until that time.^[5] This was followed by Boom Boom, Young Tarang (1984), and Hotline which was her last solo album (1987). Her last album, Camera Camera (1992) was part of a campaign against drugs.^[6] 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.^[7]

Through her successful singing career spanning over 25 years, Hassan became one of the subcontinent's most popular celebrities. She received numerous 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 till date. Hassan was also a recipient of Pakistan's highest 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.^[8] 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.^[9]

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 (LLB) degree.^[1]

Career

1975–1980: Beginning and Breakthrough

Hassan began singing during the late 1970s, when she appeared on several television shows on Pakistan Television (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. She met film director Feroz Khan at a party in the United Kingdom. Khan later requested 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.^[5][10]

The song was a huge success in India and despite being a Pakistani, Hassan gained overnight fame there.^[11] In 1981, Hassan won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback for the song. This was followed by the Kumar Gaurav and Rati Agnihotri starrer Bollywood film Star for which Nazia and Zoheb sang all the songs.^[12]

1981–1987: Pop music

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.

Nazia with Biddu in Mumbai.

After the release of Disco Deewane, she and Zoheb were offered the chance to act in a movie by Biddu, but they refused and chose singing. Hassan's second album Star/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 1982 film Star. The film did not succeed at the box office but the album was successful and increased the popularity of Hassan and her brother Zoheb 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.

Music 89 and retirement

At the end of 1980, she had become the most popular pop singer of Pakistan. In 1988, she and her brother Zoheb appeared with music maestro Sohail Rana in his television program, Sung Sung. In the following year, she 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. She hosted another show, Dhanak on PTV in the same year, 1989.

In 1991, Hassan and her brother Zoheb recorded her fifth album, Camera Camera. Before the album's release, she and Zoheb 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.^[13] The song was then offered to Alisha Chinai.^[13]

Personal life

On 30 March 1995, Hassan married businessman Mirza Ishtiaq Baig in an Islamic wedding ceremony held in Karachi.^[14] 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.^[15]

In an interview later, her brother Zoheb Hassan related that Nazia's personal life was filled with turmoil and she fought personal battles incessantly.^[16]

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.^[1] 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. Her Namaz-e-janaza took place at Golders Green Crematorium and she was buried at Hendon Cemetery (Muslim Section) 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."^[15]

Philanthropy

Hassan used her abilities to promote social causes. All the money earned from music was spent on charity. 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 (Battle Against Narcotics) and became an active member of organizations such as Voice of Women, National Youth Organisation (Pakistan).

Hassan worked with Javed Jabbar, former Information minister, to raise funds for children in 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

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".

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 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.^[17][18] 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.^[17]

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".^[19] 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.^[20]

On 31 October 2014, Global Voices Online named her as "Young, Independent women who made a space for themselves in Pakistan Music Industry".^[21] On 9 November 2014, the Delhi Pop line, showed at the TDAP's Aalishan Pakistan fashion show in Delhi paid ode to Nazia Hassan.^[22]

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."^[23]

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.^[24]

Films and Albums

• Aap Jaisa Koi (1980)
• Disco Deewane (1981)
• Our Love Last Forever (1981)
• Get a Little Closer (1982)
• Star/Boom Boom (1982)
• Dreamer Devane (UK Only) (1983)
• Young Tarang (1984)
• Ilzaam (1986)
• Main Bulwan (1986)
• Sheela (1987)
• Hotline (1987)
• Then He Kissed Me (1988)
• Saaya (1989)
• Camera Camera (1992)

Documentary

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

Awards and honours

• Pride of Performance
• Filmfare Best Female Playback Award
• Golden Disc Award
• Double Platinum Award
• Columbia University's Leadership Program
• Print Media Media – Sarwar Ahmed
• Politics – Sadiq Khan
• Education Award – Mark L. Bickerton
• Media – Dr Avtar Lit
• Special Achievement Award – Majid Ali
• Social Work Award – Maureen Lines
• Life Achievement Award – Jamila Massey

See also

• Nazia and Zoheb
• Zohaib Hassan
• Nazia Hassan Foundation

References

External links

• Nazia Hassan at the Internet Movie Database