In memoriam: Nazia Hassan was born 50 years ago today
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Arguably the first face of pop in Pakistan, Nazia Hassan was born in Karachi today on April 3, 1965.
She first appeared in a children’s program on PTV Kaliyon ki Mala in 1975 where she sang the famous ‘Dosti Aisa Naata’.
It was her single ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ that catapulted her to fame when she was just 15 after it was taken for the Bollywood flick Qurbaani. Little did anyone know that Nazia would go on to become the first Pakistani to win the prestigious Filmfare award.
Read more:Aap Jaisa Koi: Remembering Nazia Hasan
Following the success of ‘Aap Jaisa Koi,’ Nazia Hassan, along with her brother Zohaib, went on to release the evergreen album Disco Deewana (1981). This was followed by Boom Boom, Young Tarang (1984), Hotline (1987) and finally Camera, Camera (1992).
Her songs ‘Dosti’, ‘Disco Deewane’, ‘Aankhen Milane Wale’, ‘Boom Boom’ and 'Dil ki Lagi'are still timeless.
Also read: Nazia Hassan’s legacy lives on
Known for her soulful voice, Nazia was not only a singer, but also a notable humanitarian. She worked as a political analyst for the United Nations in New York and became a cultural ambassador for Pakistan in 1991.
The singer believed in welcoming new musical trends and spoke to Herald Magazine in July 1980, saying:
“Yes some people don’t even consider it music; well it’s the kind of the music we dig, take it or leave it. They say classical music is the only real music. Whenever I’m attending a classical music recital, I feel like I’m attending a funeral. You have to sit grim and still — no coughing, no talking lest people think you are being impolite.”
Even today Nazia’s songs continue to mesmerise millions of her fans:
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The singer who lost her battle against cancer passed away on August 13, 2000 leaving behind her legacy of pop culture.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (77) Closed
Apr 03, 2015 02:47pm
Nazia was sure a legend of Pakistan ...she has been The Most Photographed Celebrity Of Pakistan for consecutive 15 years. She is still loved by millions of Pakistanis, Indians, and wherever music lovers lives and understands Urdu. May her soul rest in peace.
2. She is not Arguably , but for sure the pioneer of Pop Music in Pakistan.
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Apr 03, 2015 03:00pm
Rest in peace Nazia. We will always miss you.
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Apr 03, 2015 03:05pm
A legend Nazia Hassan. We miss you and we pray to the Almighty too provide you with Jannah in the hereafter. may your soul be at peace
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Apr 03, 2015 03:14pm
Music director Biddu, Nazia Hassan gave a different kind of music, and a singing style, to the world.
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Apr 03, 2015 03:16pm
Inspiring!
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Apr 03, 2015 03:21pm
She was a legend and her songs bring back memories of 80s and 90s when pop music was slowly making its presence felt in Pakistan
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Apr 03, 2015 03:30pm
My generation will never forget Nazia. Aap Jaisa Koi has left imprint on our hearts. 35 was not the age to die....perhaps god too wanted her to sing in heaven. Will always miss you Nazia.
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Apr 03, 2015 03:31pm
She is the person who lightned name of pakistan in film industry of India.
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Apr 03, 2015 03:44pm
Happy Birthday Nazia Hassan RIP
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Apr 03, 2015 03:46pm
You will always be remembered in the millions of heart for your excellent music, kind heart and educated personality represent Pakistan around the globe. We need people like you more and more nowadays. Happy Birthday.
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Apr 03, 2015 04:04pm
What was the cause of death? Cancer?
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Apr 03, 2015 04:31pm
She was the first face of pop in south Asia. Happy birthday pop queen.
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Apr 03, 2015 04:46pm
Nazia is a legend. Physically she has gone but spiritually and musically she lives on amongst billions of people.
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Apr 03, 2015 05:25pm
Will any one write how she went from this world i.e due to some disease like Cancer. RIP .
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Apr 03, 2015 05:33pm
@Syed Ganga Din yes
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Apr 03, 2015 05:36pm
Her Disco Dewane song was a number 1 hit in Latin America in the 80's. I stumbled upon YouTube videos with comments in Spanish, largely from Peru.
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Apr 03, 2015 05:59pm
Long live her memory.
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Apr 03, 2015 06:02pm
@Syed Ganga Din Yes she died of cancer . It was first discovered when she was working with UNO but treatment got her cured. Then she got married, had a baby when it came back as lung cancer. By that time she was going through domestic turmoil as well but she couldn't make through this one. RIP dear!
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Apr 03, 2015 06:13pm
I was in my teens when her boom boom came. she was already a big star by that time. I have always loved her songs. girls from my family did feature in her videos. she will remain my favourite. love you Nazia you are an era.
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Apr 03, 2015 06:42pm
can't believe she was from Pakistan!
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Apr 03, 2015 06:47pm
we miss you Nadia Hassan
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Apr 03, 2015 06:48pm
Nazia's voice is so timeless and enchanting. The kind of music that truly transcends borders.
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Apr 03, 2015 06:52pm
We will always miss you Nazia. Happy birthday.
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Apr 03, 2015 07:17pm
The PTV days really produced quality entertainment. Unfortunately modern artists are copying inferior Indian and Turkish dramas.
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Apr 03, 2015 07:37pm
Love her music
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Apr 03, 2015 07:45pm
Brings back beautiful memories of Karachi when it was not destroyed and affected by the killers and bhatta mafia gangsters . Karachi was a paradise. It was not overcrowded and you could safely go from neighborhood to neighborhood without any fear.
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Apr 03, 2015 07:50pm
A true legend. How badly I miss those days. But life goes on and on with every one waiting for own fate.
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Apr 03, 2015 07:55pm
You were too good, the almighty took you back in a hurry.
God bless you Nazia, you will always be in our hearts. It was a special time, and what you did at the tender age of 15 nobody can ever repeat.
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Apr 03, 2015 07:56pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAZIA! We thank you and your family for giving Pakistan an amazing talent so generous in spirit, kind and beautiful soul who's voice and songs can never be replicated anywhere! May your soul be singing even in Jannat darling Nazia ...
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Apr 03, 2015 07:57pm
Legendary singer. May her soul rest in peace...
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Apr 03, 2015 07:58pm
Still remember buying an HMV cassette tape of Disco Deewane, coming home & hurriedly taking off the wrapper and inserting the cassette into the player and listening. Back then in the 80's hers was a fresh voice in the music industry in the subcontinent. Brought back memories of my teenage years when I read this article. Loved her songs.
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Apr 03, 2015 07:59pm
Queen of hearts and minds. Still live in our hearts. Rest in peace.
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Apr 03, 2015 08:19pm
Her voice, eyes and smile will live forever.
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Apr 03, 2015 08:48pm
Thank you dawn for writing this article. I saw the movie Qubani in the Shree Lamar Theater of Oak Park (Chicago), Illinois, U.S.A. in June of 1980. The 1400 seat theater was sold out; and when the audience heard the song ""Aap Jaisa Koi ", they were awed and could not believe what had happened.
Till today I can not forget the movie and the song.
However I had no idea that "Aap Jaisa Koi " was sung by Nazia Hassan until I read this article. I am also saddened to know that Nazia Hassan is not with us.
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Apr 03, 2015 08:49pm
All you guys are wrong. The pioneer of pop music in Pakistan was Runa Laila.
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Apr 03, 2015 08:57pm
I still have her tape gifted to me as a kid. Unfortunately I cannot play as I do not have a tape recorder anymore but she is in our hearts.
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Apr 03, 2015 09:23pm
Amazing! could have been an heroine , winning millions of hearts.R I P .
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Apr 03, 2015 09:37pm
I met her once. She was there with her children in toe. She had such glamour and style. She made evryone so comfortable around her. She made it a point to talk to all the elders in the crowd.
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Apr 03, 2015 09:59pm
I first heard her voice when I was a kid. that disco deewane gramophone record is still a priceless jewel for me.. i even got the Philips radiogram repaired just for that one record.. i was and I am in love with her voice. HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAZIA.
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Apr 03, 2015 10:17pm
you wil never be fotgoton dear nazia rip
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Apr 03, 2015 10:19pm
I thought she is from India. I am not a music fan but I enjoyed all her songs. Great singer my respect for departed soul
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Apr 03, 2015 10:26pm
I saw her once at the Karachi International airport in 1995. Those beautiful looks will always remain in my memory. Pakistan lost such an amazing talent! She was the spirit of the nation!
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Apr 03, 2015 10:29pm
@Anubhav I agree with you,I never forget Nadia n biddu,their songs ruled over the generation of 80s,
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Apr 03, 2015 10:53pm
Unfortunately BIDDU is missing in whole article. He played a major role in her popularity.
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Apr 03, 2015 11:22pm
It is so sweet of you to upload her songs. Do this every year and keep her memory alive with music. The picturization of Aap Jaisa Koi is also very good.
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Apr 03, 2015 11:29pm
@Bye Bye
Indeed it was Runa Laila, but that still doesn't take away anything from Nazia Hasan.
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Apr 03, 2015 11:36pm
Those were good days of Pakistan, May God bless her, She was and still is a symbol of enlightened Pakistan.
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Apr 04, 2015 12:00am
What a no-holds barred statement by Nazia, " it’s the kind of the music we dig, take it or leave it." My aunt's fav singer and thanks to dawn.com, now mine too : )
ROCK ON in heaven Nazia, and may your music stay alive for another 50 years plus ! What a trailblazer you were, way ahead of your time and had no equal in South Asia!
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Apr 04, 2015 12:14am
In India her voice touched even the remote corners. Such a mesmerizing voice. So sad she had to die so young. What a loss to humanity.
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Apr 04, 2015 12:26am
@Revolution I couldn't agree more.. Really miss those days, those times and those people.. RIP Nazia.. we miss you..
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Apr 04, 2015 12:28am
I met the her and her brother in the mid-1970s. The story she told was how in London her borhter would go to some fast food joint and at first could only heat a small hamburger and on subsequent visits went for bigger and bigger and we found it very funny. If memory servers me they both would also sing together on PTV. Wow, almost totally forget about them. Life is short...
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Apr 04, 2015 12:29am
The inscription on her grave's headstone says:
"In loving memory of Nazia Hasan. A loving daughter, sister and mother. Who was loved and cherished by millions of people".
So true, she indeed was loved and cherished by millions of people. She will remain in our prayers.
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Apr 04, 2015 12:33am
she was a unique combination of beautiful singing voice, refined personality, beautiful eyes and charismatic aura. I'm her age and was over the moon when someone gifted me her first cassette. Somewhere I still have the sticker that came with the cassette. Fond memories no regrets.
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Apr 04, 2015 01:17am
I still remember when she used to come on PTV awards with zoheb in 80s,we used to stay awake to watch them sing.It was like a craze! She can never be replaced. RIP
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Apr 04, 2015 01:30am
I had an Iranian roommate in the US in 80's. When he heard the "aap jesa" song on my tape recorder, he fell in love with the song, even though he didn't understand most of it. When I showed him a picture of Nazia in a newspaper, he recorded the song on a cassette over and over, on both side of the tape, and would listen to it non stop. RIP Nazia
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Apr 04, 2015 01:31am
How can anybody forget legend Nazia Hassan, a trend setter not only in Pakistani music but in the sub-continent.
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Apr 04, 2015 02:13am
As a child and youngster in 80s and early 90s I heard these songs so many times I can't count. Theses songs and songs made by RD were miles apart from the crap created by Bhappi Lehri.
Oh I so wish that great singers and composers live a long life and continue to enthrall the music lovers.
There is a reason why we Indians read Dawn. Articles like these that indian does not cover.
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Apr 04, 2015 02:48am
Pakistans bright shining star.May she be blessed by the creator with everlasting peace.
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Apr 04, 2015 02:50am
Nazia is still alive in the hearts of her fans..
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Apr 04, 2015 03:30am
She was the progressive and forward face of Pakistan. The whole Zia era fundamentalists did not like her. She is in a better place.
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Apr 04, 2015 04:02am
4 years back i was backpakking in Peru. And in the CD shops all over they were playing 'Disco Deewane'.
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Apr 04, 2015 05:14am
A true legend..
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Apr 04, 2015 06:22am
i was always very fond of both brother and sister singing...she was a legend ...an amazing singer i saw in person a down to earth both brother and sister...it was the biggest lost to Pakistan music...i now live in Canada for 20 years, but i still have their music...i have got Zohaib songs form Coke studio...he is still very good...i know whats going through his mind today after 15 years...all i can say is you been a good brother and keep up for what you both were born to do...sing and make people like us happy ...God Bess my friend
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Apr 04, 2015 06:37am
Lekin mera dil, mera dil ro raha hai!!! Mind Blowing. These songs and Albums are legendary even today, just like Modern talking. Her songs still are far much better that the ones that come today. Nazia Hassan miss your music!!!!
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Apr 04, 2015 07:12am
What a singer she was, RIP, Nazia, and Happy Birthday, if there is an heaven I believe there she too, entertaining the residents with her melodious God gifted voice.
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Apr 04, 2015 07:43am
It was y a great loss. She and her brother started a movement to inspire others to start into this well respected field.
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Apr 04, 2015 07:46am
Nazia Hasan was seen for the first time on PTV. Most of Nazia's best treks were composed by music director Biddu. She dominated pop music in early 1980s and it would not be incorrect to say that she is pillar of pop music in Pakistan. All treks were good but her Album Young Tarang (1984) was my favourite. Deeply missed.
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Apr 04, 2015 07:50am
Happy Birthday Nazia ji. Your body may have left the world but your beautiful voice will be with us forever.
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Apr 04, 2015 08:06am
What an amazing singer. Loved by millions all over the world. RIP
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Apr 04, 2015 09:20am
What a talent we lost, happy b'day Mam and be happy wherever you are.
We Indians always remembering you....
Its quite unfortunate that the world never got to know about so many talents from Pakistan, rather is being tagged for fundamentalism....
RIP Mam....
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Apr 04, 2015 11:08am
What a legend she was. They gave New Life to Music & for the world to cheer. Rest in Peace for ever.
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Apr 04, 2015 11:30am
One of the bestest thing to happen in the subcontinent..a cutest gal with the cutest voice and looks...(yea i do still have that DISCO DEEWANE LP).may the all mighty bless her soul..this comin from an Indian...i am sure it won't be published by dawn.com...but i don't care...she would remain in my heart...i was born in 74 and the disco dewane came out in 80s...with biddu as the composer (an indian) and nazia as a singer (a pakistani)...that's why i say..the bestest thing to happen the subcontinent....
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Apr 04, 2015 11:44am
@Beena Siddiqui ...all i can say you are right on the nickel....she was and is a sweetheart....coming from an indian....honestly speakin and logically at the same time....being an indian i love 2 pakistanis and i hold them close to my heart..one is nazia and the other is wasim akram....(the bestest bowler that the world has ever seen)
to me wasim is far better than over hyped sachin tendulkar
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Apr 05, 2015 11:45am
Nazia............You have been a golden bridge between India and Pakistan for your
soulful songs and that too at a tender age.India felt honoured to honour you for
among many,yet the song Aap Jaisa Koi.....it still reverbates .fresh as ever.And
your rise as a Pak representative in America, like 'sone par suhaga'.YOUR DEPARTURE
from this world being too early,proves god calls back sacred souls too early.Indians
love you,respect you as much as country of your birth.Pray....RIP.
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Apr 05, 2015 06:56pm
India made her famous. She was very thankful to India. That is how it should be to develop ties rather than jealousy.
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Apr 05, 2015 09:08pm
Lekin mera dil....- oh those wonderful days of youth - lost for ever.
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Apr 06, 2015 03:23am
@Ali Zaidi
Her Disco Dewane Album did really well in South America. Look it up!
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