Images

Nazia Hassan, we miss you

On the iconic pop star's 54th birthday, we remember her in photos and videos
Updated 03 Apr, 2019


This article was originally published on April 3, 2016.


Born in 1965 in Karachi, Nazia Hassan was the most influential and probably the only real female pop singer of the '80s and '90s in both India and Pakistan. Today marks her 54th birthday.

Hassan is mourned with a vengeance that is far greater than the music she made. The reason is simple; Nazia Hasan had a quality that went beyond talent. She was a star in the true sense of the overused and misunderstood word. Her contribution to music itself may be minimal but her contribution to breaking the shackles of musical orthodoxy cannot be forgotten.

Perhaps unwittingly, she was much more than just a singer. And that is why the tragically short life of Hassan is so important.

“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’n still – no coughing, no talking lest people think you are being impolite”

(Excerpts taken from an article published in the September 2000 edition of Herald)


In photos


In video

Ankhein milanay walay

Disco Deewane

Dum Dum Dee Dee

Aap Jaisa Koi

Dil Ki Lagi


Photos courtesy Herald, Dawn

Comments

Tim Apr 03, 2016 02:06pm
If contribution of a singer lending her heavenly voice to music is 'minimal', I don't know...
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Amer Rao Apr 03, 2016 02:23pm
RIP
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Mr Apr 03, 2016 02:42pm
Listened to her songs since my childhood in india. She has left a lasting impression on me. Thank you nazia hassan. Deeply missed
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Shehryar Apr 03, 2016 02:45pm
Still to this date, listen to Nazia and Zohebs songs..
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Shahid Apr 03, 2016 02:56pm
I remember the time when indian media used to say that Nadia is so popular that she could win countrywide elections and become prime minister of India. She was such a good singer of her times and an innocent beauty that no one in the subcontinent could remain untouched. She changed it all , she is the pillar for pop music in Indo-Pak. And then she wasn't just a singer, her personality, charity work and innocent nature made her the ultimate star for ever. Missing her is an understatement.
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Salma Shahid Apr 03, 2016 02:58pm
Our everlasting princess.
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Proud_Pakistani Apr 03, 2016 03:03pm
I still remember those days. When i used to listen her songs on PTV in the afternoon or in the evening. When i used to go tuition. Those were good days of life. Life was not too much complicated as it's going now. Pakistan in those was much superior than many countries. I wish, i could bring good old days back to Pakistan. When we live to love. Not for live to hate.
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M. Ahmed Apr 03, 2016 03:35pm
You were ahead of your time, RIP
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Minhas Apr 03, 2016 03:57pm
A legend who we grew up admiring and inspired by the music. You are gone Nazia but never forgotten! RIP
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Sunil Apr 03, 2016 04:11pm
Nazia Hassan, became famous through Feroz Khan's film, Qurbani, music given by Biddu.
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duaddash Apr 03, 2016 04:24pm
Really we missed her..... One are in need of one more in our society...
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Romeo Apr 03, 2016 04:36pm
Beautiful voice. And Zeenat Aman looks lovely too.
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Arif Khan Apr 03, 2016 04:49pm
We miss you Nazia! You were and will always remain in our hearts.
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akram Apr 03, 2016 05:03pm
she has an amazing voice, I still listen to her music occasionally.
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Aman Apr 03, 2016 05:16pm
Wow. She's so beautiful!
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Aqdas Apr 03, 2016 05:18pm
Thanks for bringing smiles to our faces......... RIP our true Pakistani musical princess
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vasudevan Apr 03, 2016 05:36pm
Lovely Zeenath Aman backed by the lovelier voice of Nazia Hassan- this song was a sensation then. Those days this particular song used to be played in many hotels in the evenings. Somehow, the present day pop songs do not have this kind of appeal
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Husnain Apr 03, 2016 05:45pm
Nazia was the best...is the best...will always be one of the best pop singers ever!
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AA Venturer Apr 03, 2016 05:54pm
The Urdu pop legend lives on and is always alive in our hearts.
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wake_up Apr 03, 2016 06:06pm
A sweet soul touching singer. Would live forever in the fond memories of fans.
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asim Apr 03, 2016 06:14pm
A legend
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bob pop Apr 03, 2016 06:41pm
It was a golden era indeed , She is truly missed !
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Hassan Nasir Apr 03, 2016 07:41pm
May Allah bless her high place in Jannat-ul-firdous......Ameen
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Bilal Dogar Apr 03, 2016 09:21pm
Iconic
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shine Apr 03, 2016 10:54pm
The first time I heard Nazia and Zoheb was in 1988. Till date no one could and can take their place. I am an Indian and they are from Pakistan , to be honest I don't know who I am or who they are when I see or listen to them. All I know is I find life in their songs.
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Salman Munir Apr 03, 2016 10:54pm
Nazia is in our hearts and will remain in it forever. Whenever I think of Nazia, tears start coming out of my eyes. May Allah give her best place in the paradise, Aameen.
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Salman Munir Apr 03, 2016 10:57pm
Nazia's songs are matchless and evergreen. They are gems.
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Salman Munir Apr 03, 2016 10:59pm
I couldn't meet Nazia in this world, But I look forward to meeting her in the world hereafter!!, In sha Allah.
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Rizwan Apr 03, 2016 11:46pm
Nazia Hassan is an iconic figure in modern music of Pakistan. She will always be missed.
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SAEER Apr 04, 2016 01:23am
Ah! a divinely charismatic lady. Yes we all miss you. RIP
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Rajeev USA Apr 04, 2016 01:51am
Travelling from the Gulf back to India, as a teen, the customs officer at Mumbai airport wanted my 'Disco Deewane' cassette, and I won't relent...thanks for your music, Nazia! : )
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Mehkan Apr 04, 2016 03:20am
Mesmerizing and magical voice. Her elegance and simplicity was beyond awesome. She was stylish, full of empathy, and extremely talented. Amazing music talent!
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Agha Ata Apr 04, 2016 07:27am
Nazia Hassan. I don't want to say I miss you, on the Internet. People do it as if you would read this paper. I don't know, but I do miss your songs a lot. I am sure you are very happy wherever you are. Thanks for having been with us for sometimes. YUou made us so happ[y and made this world more beautiful when you were here. :)
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A fan Apr 04, 2016 08:02am
Once in a century musical icon who changed the music scene of Pakistan and India. May u rest is heaven. Regards. A fan
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Yasir Khan Apr 04, 2016 08:38am
What an amazing singer! I still remember listening to her songs in the 90s. Miss those times. RIP Nazia - you are truly missed.
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Sharooz Bashir Apr 04, 2016 10:33am
Better looks than Anushka Sharma and singing parallel to Alisha Chinai. Pakistani pop singer, late Nazia Hassan, has ruled tens of thousands of hearts. May you rest in peace ~ Amen!
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Ahmed Apr 04, 2016 11:15am
Legends are not born every day but they are remembered every day even after they die. Yes we miss you.
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Jawaid Islam Apr 04, 2016 11:24am
Dil ki lagi, kuch aur bhi...zabardast!
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anil sahu Apr 04, 2016 11:53am
people should thankful to Biddu the music composer who has contributed much in her success
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Surya Kant Apr 04, 2016 12:05pm
Only 2-3 days back I was listening to her famous number from movie Qurbani.... Aap Jaisa Koi Meri Jindagi mei aaye... not knowing of her birthday. She was a rage in my teens. I used to pay coin to listen to her number on machine. Some one got any idea about her brother?
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Patriotic Apr 04, 2016 12:30pm
Nazia Hassan Was a shining star, she was loved by millions in India and Pakistan, We miss her forever.
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Arisha G Apr 04, 2016 08:19pm
Gone too soon. Her talent and style is timeless - transcends generations. She is terribly missed.
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Makhdoom Rafique Apr 06, 2016 08:56am
We miss you. You were great singer.
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M Ahmed, Dxb Aug 13, 2017 11:35am
RIP, may Allah grant you Jannah
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NONAME Aug 13, 2017 12:04pm
I am from India and I love her voice :(
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Amit lunia Aug 13, 2017 12:26pm
She was good, but not very good Remove one song from qurbani and one disc(biddu one) from her career and she had nothing left To early to put greatness on her..
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Dr Talha ahmed Aug 13, 2017 12:48pm
One of the most talented female sibger,unfortunately passed away so early. Allah Bless her departed soul.Her legacy will live fir ever.
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Zak Aug 13, 2017 12:57pm
We truly miss her. She represented the new Pakistani generation spirit.
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Zak Aug 13, 2017 12:59pm
@Romeo who is zeenat Aman?
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Aug 13, 2017 01:57pm
May God Almighty bless her soul in peace and solace in the Jannat-ul-Firdous. Aameen, Tsum Aameen.
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Muhammed Asim Rao Aug 13, 2017 04:08pm
true - an iconic figure of her time - we all do. May you rest in peace
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Shahid Aug 13, 2017 06:21pm
Could never get her voice and her beautiful personality out of my mind. May Allah grant her Jannah.
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Jamil Soomro, New York City Aug 13, 2017 07:26pm
I saw her quite a few times in United Nations here in New York City. But little did I know that she had a serious disease at such a young age.What a talented Artist she was. Yes, you are truly missed.
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Muhammad arshad Aug 13, 2017 11:26pm
Good one, rings a lot of childhood memories from 80s
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A.K.M. Jahidul islam Aug 13, 2017 11:27pm
I know her from Firoz khan's super hit movie Qurbani. One of her song then made super hit among whole sub-continent.
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Gokarn Aug 13, 2017 11:42pm
I bunked first period during my 9 class almost every day to listen Nazaia's 'app jaisa koi' on Vividh Bharti at 7.45 AM daily in 1980. I still listen this song in subconscious mind.
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Anirban Aug 14, 2017 12:50am
My teenage can be attributed to Nazia Hassan.... she was more than a singing sensation.... she was an icon... a modernist who has forever etched in our dreams and imaginations....
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Pakistani Aug 14, 2017 01:20am
A Legend
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Sphinx Aug 14, 2017 05:10am
Death be not proud, RIP sweet princess.
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KAMRAN SHabqadarian Aug 14, 2017 06:15am
@anil sahu you can thank biddu for the rest of your life but keep one thing in mind, she was famous in Pakistan way before biddu copy cat compused the music for her song in feroz khan's movie.
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Anil Aug 14, 2017 06:44am
Thank you Dawn!!
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Roz Aug 16, 2017 11:21pm
She was the best hands down RIP
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Vipin Chandra Apr 03, 2019 12:31pm
I have enormous love and respect for Nazia and Zoheb Hassan. The brother sister duo was a delight to listen to and watch on stage. Tragic that Nazia didn't live long enough, but her mesmerizing voice will stay with us forever.
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Faraz Apr 03, 2019 01:38pm
A true icon of Pakistani pop music and is always missed. What a great life she lead. God bless her soul.
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Analyst Apr 03, 2019 02:18pm
@Amit lunia What about Disco Deewane and others?
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M. Emad Apr 03, 2019 02:29pm
New generation forget singer Nazia Hassan.
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braingain Apr 03, 2019 03:01pm
Her voice and beauty could transcend borders, religion and other man made boundaries, RIP dear princess
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enam Apr 03, 2019 03:52pm
Still listening in 2019 ….such a legendary voice
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ghessan Apr 03, 2019 04:36pm
since i am of the same generation, yes i miss you and will miss you till i'm alive.
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Vasudevan Apr 03, 2019 06:52pm
Nazia, Qurbani, Zeenat....those were the days. Great voice. Great talent. Younger days, then, we were simply crazy. Nazia made us happy. That's all
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Boota Apr 03, 2019 08:22pm
Beautiful memories ...
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Muralidharan Apr 03, 2019 08:47pm
Listening to Nazia is very nostalgic.The song 'aap ....' with music composed by Biddu was very popular amongst us youngsters during those heady days of the yore.Living in Bangalore whichever restaurant we used to drop it was the same song.Thanks Nazia for those wonderful music and you still live in our memory.
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Chethan Prabhu Apr 03, 2019 09:03pm
Nazia Hassan’s music success should serve as a reminder of what can be achieved if India and Pakistan can come together. Imagine the Indian Premier League becoming the South Asian Premier league or the volume of business and jobs that can be created thru trade!!
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Desi Apr 04, 2019 12:42am
She was great singer and a human being.. we miss her in India too...!!
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RAja Raman Apr 04, 2019 01:04am
Golden mesmerising voice..... RIP
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Shahid Apr 04, 2019 05:19am
People call her queen of pop but in my eyes she was the only princess Pakistan ever had or will have. RIP . May Allah give you Jannah.
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Rk Apr 04, 2019 07:56am
Nazia 's beauty, shape along with her uplifting voice could make even a dead person alive! She was more than Karachian, she became the living soul of Bollywood and invaded into the hearts of Indians, and she will live there forever.
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Ganesh Apr 05, 2019 10:03am
Your songs make new freshness.. Our bad time that we couldn't enjoy your more songs for our life.. but your pop queen you live long in our heart ever.. my mom's too like your songs but she no more it's been over 22 years!! When I was 10 year old, I can remember the songs come in radio or TV my my too sing that time.. from bottom of the heart I say your good soul
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