Nazia Hassan

Career Hassan's professional music career started at the age of fifteen - and she was first discovered by Indian actress Zeenat Aman, who she had come to meet as a fan, accompanied by her mother and brother. Through Zeenat Aman, she met film director Feroz Khan at a party in the United Kingdom, who later requested that she audition with Biddu, a London-based Indian music composer, for his film Qurbani. Biddu then signed her up for "Aap Jaisa Koi", a song he composed for the film.

Hassan promptly 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, becoming an international success. The album became a mega-hit and Hassan became an established pop singer in Pakistan; the album also featured vocals by her brother Zohaib Hassan. Nazia and Zoheb were signed by EMI Group and were the first South Asian singers to be signed by an international music company.

After the release of Disco Deewane, Biddu offered Zoheb and her a chance to act in the movie Star in 1982, but they refused and instead chose to perform the soundtrack. The soundtrack album, Star/Boom Boom, was released. She was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer, although this time she did not win. The album was successful and increased the popularity of Hassan and Zohaib in Pakistan and India.

Hassan's third album, Young Tarang, was released in 1984. The song was then offered to Alisha Chinai. and she divorced Baig 3 months before her death. She accused her ex-husband of physical abuse and for poisoning her in a testimony given to the UK High Court before her death. Baig claims that Nazia Hassan was his wife until death. These two marriages were kept secret from Nazia Hassan's family.

Ishtiaq and Nazia Hassan had a son, Arez Hassan, born on 7 April 1997.

Death Nazia Hassan died of lung cancer in London on 13 August 2000 at the age of 35.

The next day, her mother Muniza was called to the hospital where her daughter had started coughing heavily at around 9:15 am. She died within minutes of having a pulmonary embolism. Following a funeral prayer at Hendon Mosque, Nazia was buried in the Muslim section of Hendon Cemetery, London on 5 September 2000 as per Islamic rites. In an interview with The Express Tribune newspaper, her brother Zoheb revealed "She died an unhappy person, she died in pain".

Zoheb Hassan said later that she kept the family in the dark about her marriage problems until she was finally divorced days before her death. She is frequently compared to Princess Diana, as she was known to possess a "heart of gold". India Today magazine voted her as one of the top 50 influential people. "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.

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. 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.

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." Also in 2014, the posthumous honorary degree of doctorate from Richmond American University, London, was received by her son Arez Hassan in her honor.

An India Today article titled "Nazia makes a lovely comeback" celebrated Nazia Hassan's music appearing in the cult 2012 film, Miss Lovely that had premiered at the Cannes Film Festival: "The film has made the audience nostalgic over Ahluwalia's use of the song "Dum dum de de" from Hassan's 1984 album, Young Tarang." Miss Lovely director, Ashim Ahluwalia, described keeping the original track untouched: "The song symbolises the '80s and the lyrics of the song were in sync with the mood of the film. [We] retained the original voice of Nazia. We didn't want to remix this song because the original was perfect." In 2020, actress Meesha Shafi covered Hassan's single "Boom Boom" in her memory, which was praised by Zoheb.

On 19 August 2022, she was honoured in New York and was shown at Times Square billboards on her 22nd death anniversary, courtesy of Spotify and remembered as one of the most influential singers of all time.

Awards and honours Hassan received a Filmfare Award in 1980 for Best Female Playback Singer. as well as another nomination for the same award in 1983.

In 1988, Nazia was awarded Nigar Award for Best Compere. In 1989, she was awarded PTV Silver Jubilee Award at 9th PTV Awards for her contributions to the Music Industry.

Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 2002 (award was accepted by her mother Muneeza Basir for late Nazia Hassan). The award was presented to Muniza Basir, Hassan's mother, from the President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf in an official ceremony held at Islamabad in 2002.

Discography Studio albums Disco Deewane (1981) (charted in 14 countries became the best-selling Asian pop record at the time) Boom Boom (1982) Young Tarang (1984) (This was the first album to feature music videos in Pakistan) Hotline (1987) Camera Camera (1992)

Extended plays Our Love Last Forever (1981) Get a Little Closer (1982) Dreamer Devane (1983) Dil Ki Lagi Then He Kissed Me (1988)

Film soundtracks Qurbani (1980) (Aap Jaisa Koi, her first popular song from this film) Star (1982) Dilwaala (1986) Ilzaam (1986) Main Balwaan (1986) Adhikar (1986) Sheela (1987) Saaya (1989) Student of the Year (2012) Miss Lovely (2012)