Nazia and Zoheb

Nazia and Zoheb (Urdu: نازیہ اور زوہیب‎) were a Pakistani pop duo from Karachi, Sindh formed in 1980. The group consisted of two siblings, Nazia Hassan and Zoheb Hassan (collectively known as Hassans or The Hassans or Hazan), who were a singing sensation and pop icons in South Asia, Pakistan, India, Southeast Asia, and South America. They are regarded as pioneers of the Pakistani pop and Indi-pop scenes, and were one of the most successful Asian pop duos of all time, selling more than 65 million albums worldwide.[1]

Nazia and Zoheb
OriginKarachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Genres
Years active1980–1992
LabelsEMI Records
Past membersNazia Hassan
Zoheb Hassan

The duo initially gained prominence with their music single "Aap Jaisa Koi" first featured as a soundtrack for the 1980 Indian film Qurbani. The song was on the group's debut album Disco Deewane released in 1981 produced by Indian producer Biddu. The album was and still is the best selling pop album of South East Asia. The iconic album helped pop music shape as seen today in India, Pakistan and was the first South Asian album that also managed to crossover internationally by becoming a hit in Brazil, Russia, South Africa and Indonesia. The duo released their second album Boom Boom in 1982 which was the soundtrack for the Bollywood movie Star. After two years the band recorded their critically acclaimed album Young Tarang in 1983. It was the first album of the subcontinent pre MTV to feature music videos. Nazia and Zoheb released their fourth hit album, Hotline in 1987, which featured the duo's younger sister, Zahra Hassan. The group released their last studio album Camera Camera in 1992, which was written and produced solely by Zoheb.

Before the release of their fifth studio album, Nazia and Zoheb announced that it would be their last album. It did not achieve the same level of success of its predecessors as Nazia fell drastically ill and they could not promote the CD. After the album's release, Nazia left her singing career to focus on her health and personal life. Zoheb went on to pursue his career as an actor/ solo artist and released his debut album Kismat (2006).

The group was ended in the early 1990s, due to the illness of Nazia Hassan. She died later on 13 August 2000 due to lung cancer at the age of 35 in London. After her death, Zoheb Hassan also left singing before making a spectacular comeback in 2014 with hit songs "Jaana", "Chehra" and "Dheeray Dheeray" for the musical series Coke Studio Pakistan.

History

Early years (1975–1981)

Nazia and Zoheb spent their childhood in Karachi as well as London. In the late 1970s, both siblings attended and sang at "Sang Sang Chalien" and "Kaliyon Ke Mala", famous musical shows for children hosted by the music maestro Sohail Rana. In 1976 Nazia and Zoheb both made a cameo appearance in the Pakistani film Beyond the Last Mountain in a song as extras. Nazia's professional career started at the age of fifteen when she provided lead vocals for the song "Aap Jaisa Koi" from the 1980 film Qurbani. Nazia was introduced to the film's director Feroz Khan by his friend Biddu, an Indian music producer based in the United Kingdom. The song was a huge success in India and despite Nazia being a Pakistani, she gained overnight fame there too. In 1981, Nazia won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Aap Jaisa Koi".

Breakthrough era (1981–1983)

After the success of "Aap Jaisa Koi", Qurbani became a big hit and Nazia collaborated again with Biddu and her equally talented brother, Zoheb. In 1981, Nazia/Zoheb became the first teen singers to release a pop album. The album was entitled, "Disco Deewane". The album broke record sales in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, South Africa and even topped the charts in the West Indies, Latin America and Russia. This album became a mega-hit and Nazia/Zoheb became gained legendary status. Zoheb composed 6 out of the 10 tracks on the album to establish himself as a successful singer/songwriter.

After the release of "Disco Deewane", Nazia and Zoheb were offered the chance to act in a movie by Biddu, but they refused to act and chose singing. Nazia's second album Star/Boom Boom was released in 1982. The soundtrack of the album was used in the movie Star. The film did not do well at the box office but the album was super successful and increased the iconic status of Nazia and Zoheb in the region.

Continued success (1983–1989)

Nazia's third album, Young Tarang, was released in 1983.[2] It was the first album in Pakistan to feature music videos, which were made in London by David and Kathy Rose. The album sold over 40 million copies. The album made Nazia/Zoheb's into one of the most known pop icons in South East Asia. Ankhien Milane Wale, "Zara Chehra" and "Dum Dum Dee Dee" became the most popular songs of the album. After the release of Young Tarang, Nazia/Zoheb returned to singing for Bollywood movies as playback singers. She sang with legendary Kishore Kumar and Zoheb sang "Mein AAya Teray Leay" for film superstar Govinda.

Nazia's fourth album, Hotline was released in 1987. Aa Haan, "Hum aur Tum", "Paisa Paisa" and "Telephone Pyar" were the most popular songs of the album. The songs were later performed in the revolutionary TV show, Music 89 which lead to Nazia and Zoheb being banned by the extremist elements in the Pakistani Parliament for promoting youth music and culture which was deemed un Islamic at that time. Ironically the show launched the careers of gave rise to numerous rising bands and singers in Pakistan.

Retirement (1990–1995)

By the end of the 1980s Nazia/Zoheb had become the most popular Asian pop singing duos. The show launched the careers of many new rising bands and singers and became popular in Pakistan. Nazia hosted another show, Dhanak on PTV in the same year, 1989.

In 1991, Nazia and Zoheb recorded her fifth album, Camera Camera. Before the album's release, Nazia and Zoheb announced it would be their last album. The album was released in 1992. This album featured hits like the Punjabi no, "Taali Dey Thalay". It was not as successful as their previous albums as Nazia was diagnosed with Cancer and both decided not to promote the album.

Nazia's death and beyond (2000–2002)

Nazia Hassan died of lung cancer in London on 13 August 2000 at the age of 35.[3] She was admitted to North Finchley Hospice 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, Muneeza, was called to the hospital where her daughter had started coughing heavily at around 9:15am. She died within minutes. Nazia is buried at the Muslim Hendon Cemetery in London.

On Saturday, 9 March 2002 Zoheb Hassan organised a Tribute Concert for his late sister Nazia Hassan at the Gymkhana Cricket Ground in front of 10,000 people. Zoheb sang a compilation of his hits to a hysterical crowd. The classic line-up of Vital Signs performed together on stage – for the first time in almost 7 years. The concert which featured over 30 artists and bands was reported by The News International as one of the best concerts ever seen in Pakistan.

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, by the President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf in an official ceremony held at Islamabad. Zoheb went on to become the Honorary Advisor to the Governor of Sindh and went on to organise mega festivals such as "Sindh Festival", "Media & Entertainment Expo", "Pakistan UK Connect Expo" (UK), "Pakistan Arts & Crafts Fair", etc. He also initiated his media company B&H International Pvt Limited ( www.bh.com.pk)

In 2003, Nazia's family established the Nazia Hassan Foundation charitable organization. The organization was established in continuation of her lifelong charitable and social efforts to make the world a better place to live in for all irrespective of color, creed or religion.

2006

Zoheb Hassan acted in the drama serial "Kismat" in 2006 and released his solo album of the same title in 2006 but soon after decided to leave music to focus on his family's extensive property and media business.

Discography

Albums
Year Album title
1981 Disco Deewane
1982 Star / Boom Boom
1983 Young Tarang
1987 Hotline
1992 Camera Camera
1995 Boom Boom Remix
2006 Kismat

Film soundtracks
Year Album title
1980 Qurbani
1982 Star
1986 Dilwala
1986 Ilzaam
1986 Main Balwan
1986 Adhikar
1987 Sheela
1989 Saaya

Songs
Year Song Title
"Guzar Rahi Hai Khazan"
"Aana Aankhon Mein"
1981 "Our Love Last Forever"
1981 "Dreamer Deewane"
1982 "Get a Little Closer"
1982 "Nigahon Se Durr"
1982 "Halla Gulla"
1982 "Sheela O My Sheela"
1982 "Takta Munni Mana"
1982 "Mein Aya Tere Liye"
1982 "Tonight Pyar Karo"
1988 "Then He Kissed Me"
1988 "Don't Think Twice"
1995 "Ankhien Band Karo"
2002 "Star of Asia"
2002 "Medlay"
2003 "Sathi Ray"
2003 "Khobsorat"

TV appearances
Year Title Note
1975 Kaliyon Ki Mala
1977 Sang Sang Chalien
1981 Disco Deewane BBC Show
1981 Disco Deewane DD 1
1981 BBC News
1981 Zia Moh-u-Din Show Channel 4
1981 David Sole
1981 David Essex
1984 Young Tarang Show DD 1
1984 Aap Ke Liye PTV on 19 December
1985 PTV Election Transmission
1986 Show Time PTV
1987 Yes Sir No Sir PTV
1987 TV Hits
1987 BBC Show
1988 PTV Awards
1988 Then He Kissed ME
1988 Don't Think Twice
1989 Music 89
1989 Dhanak
1990 Aap Ke Mehman
1990 PTV 25
1990 Mehman-i-Khasosi
1990 Studio 2
1990 Kaliyan 1990 to 1991
1992 Eid Show
1993 Eye Witness
1995 Pro Audio Show
1997 Sawaire Sawaire PTV
1998 PTV World
1999 Zee TV Nazia Hassan's Last TV Appearance
2000 Zee TV
2002 Tribute Concert to Nazia Hassan
2000 PTV Prime
2002 PTV Nite Time Transmission
2002 PTV Awards
2002 Face of The Year
2002 Black & White Indus Vision
2003 PTV Ramdan Transmission
2003 Face of The Year
2003 Gaye Ge Dunia Geet Mere Geo TV
2006 Kismet Show Geo TV
2007 Hum Morning Show Hum TV
2007 Marina Morning ARY Digital
2007 Baat Niklay Gee Tu ARY Digital
2008 Tribute to Nazia Hassan Play TV
2008 Nazia Hassan Ke Salgirah MTV
2008 Subah Sawaire with Shaista ARY OneWorld
2008 Sunday with Bushra Geo Entertainment, on 27 April

Remixes
  • Get a Little Closer, by Hazan, remixed by Sal Solo.

TV commercials
Year Title Note
Sitara Sapna Lawn
1990 Lipton
1991 Lipton
1992 Lipton
2001 Walls Cornetto
2002 Polio Campaign

TV dramas
  1. Kismet (Geo TV, 2006)
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gollark: Okay, I rechecked, apparently blahȩj are not to be discontinued and it was a mistake by Ikea.
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gollark: Aren't they cancelling blahaj soon?

See also

References
  1. PTI (18 November 2005). "NRI TV presenter gets Nazia Hassan Award". Times of India. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  2. "Pakistan Hotel and Travel Review". Pakistan Hotel and Travel Review. Syed Wali Ahmad Maulai. 6–8: 45. 1983.
  3. Jai Kumar (23 August 2000). "Obituary: Nazia Hassan". guardian.co.uk. The Guardian. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
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