Down memory lane: Pakistani pop queen's 50th birthday today

Nazia Hassan was only 15 years old when her song Aap Jaisa Koi made her a sensation across South Asia.

On what would have been Pakistani Queen of Pop Nazia Hasaan's 50th birthday, The Express Tribune recalls some key highlights of her life.

Nazia Hassan was only 15 years old when her song Aap Jaisa Koi for the 1980 Indian film Qurbaani made her a sensation across South Asia, earning her a Filmfare for  best playback singer in the process - the first Pakistani to ever do so.



She went on to collaborate with her brother Zoheb Hassan on several mega-hits including Disco Deewane, Ankhein Milane Wale, Lekin Mera Dil Ro Raha Hai, Dosti, and Aan Haan. Together, the brother and sister team went on to completely transform music trends not just in Pakistan but across the border as well, despite restrictions imposed on music by the Zia regime.

In 2009, India Today magazine voted her as one of the 50 people who helped change the face of India - despite her being a Pakistani. "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 when it announced the list.

Nazia's influence on Bollywood continues well after her death. Her super-hit song Disco Deewane was reused in the 2012 film Student of the Year. Even though the rest of the vocals were provided by Sunidhi Chauhan, the iconic words Disco Deewane can still be heard in Nazia's voice.



Apart from a phenomenal singing voice, Nazia was also a humanitarian. “I always told her that she should not be a singer,” her  brother told The Express Tribune in 2012. “She had no airs about herself. But she believed she could reach the hearts of millions through music and singing, and could do good humanitarian work.”

Nazia's input was also critical in her brother's work as a music composer. “That is not there anymore,” says Zoheb, indicating that making music without Nazia is not easy.

Nazia bid adieu to her singing career in 1991 when she got married. However, her married life was troubled and ended in an acrimonious divorce ten years later.

The singer was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1994 and succumbed to the disease on August 13, 2000 at the age of 35.