Nazia and Zoheb

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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 (3 April 1965-13 August 2000) and Zoheb Hassan (b. 18 November 1966) (collectively known as Hassans, The Hassans or Hazan).^[1][2] They are regarded as pioneers of the Pakistani pop scene, and were one of the most successful Asian pop duos of all time, selling more than 105 million albums worldwide.^[3][4]

The duo initially gained prominence with their single "Aap Jaisa Koi" which was first featured as the soundtrack for the 1980 Indian film Qurbani. They later went on to release their debut album Disco Deewane in 1981 produced by Indian producer Biddu. Disco Deewane became the best selling Asian pop album at the time, charting in 14 countries worldwide and even becoming a hit in countries such as Brazil, Russia, South Africa, and Indonesia.^[1] The iconic album helped shape pop music in Pakistan and India as it is seen today.^[5] 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 Pakistan 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.^[5]

Before the release of their fifth studio album, Nazia and Zoheb announced that it would be their final album. However, it did not achieve the same level of success as their previous albums, as Nazia fell severely ill, preventing them from promoting the CD. After its release, Nazia decided to retire from her singing career to focus on her health and personal life. Zoheb went on to pursue his career as an actor/soloist and released his debut album Kismat in 2006.^[5]

The group disbanded in the early 1990s, due to the illness of Nazia Hassan. She died of lung cancer in London on 13 August 2000, at the age of 35.^[1] After her death, Zoheb Hassan also quit his singing career before making a comeback in 2014 with hit songs "Jaana", "Chehra" and "Dheeray Dheeray" for the musical series Coke Studio Pakistan.^[6]

Nazia and Zoheb spent their childhood in Karachi as well as London. In the late 1970s, both siblings participated in "Sang Sang Chalien" and "Kaliyon Ke Mala"; musical shows for children hosted by Sohail Rana. In 1976, Nazia and Zoheb both made a cameo appearance in the Pakistani film Beyond the Last Mountain as extras in a musical scene. 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 success in India. In 1981, Nazia won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Aap Jaisa Koi".

After the success of "Aap Jaisa Koi", Qurbani became a big hit, and Nazia once again collaborated with Biddu and her brother, Zoheb. In 1981, Nazia/Zoheb became the first teen singers to release a pop album. The album was titled "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. Zoheb composed 6 out of the 10 tracks on the album.

After the release of "Disco Deewane", Nazia and Zoheb were offered the chance to act in a movie by Biddu, but they declined, preferring to focus on their music career. 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 successful.

Nazia's third album, Young Tarang, was released in 1983.^[7] 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. "Ankhien Milane Wale", "Zara Chehra" and "Dum Dum Dee Dee" became the most popular songs on the album.

Over thirty years later, an India Today article titled "Nazia makes a lovely comeback" celebrated Nazia Hassan's music appearing in the cult 2012 film, Miss Lovely, which 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."^[8] 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."^[8]

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 Tere Liye" for 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 on the album. The songs were later performed on the television program Music 89, which led to Nazia and Zoheb being banned by the Pakistani parliament for promoting youth music and culture which was deemed un-Islamic at that time. Ironically, the show launched the careers of numerous rising bands and singers in Pakistan. Nazia hosted another show, Dhanak, on PTV that same year. By the end of the 1980's, Nazia/Zoheb had become one of the most popular Asian pop singing duos.

In 1991, Nazia and Zoheb recorded their 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 tracks like the Punjabi classic "Taali Dey Thalay." It failed to match the success of their previous albums as Nazia was diagnosed with cancer and they decided not to promote the album.

Nazia Hassan died of lung cancer in London on 13 August 2000 at the age of 35.^[9] She was admitted to North Finchley Hospice three days prior as her condition deteriorated. She showed signs of mild recovery the day before she died and it was thought that she would be discharged. But early Sunday morning, her mother, Muneeza, was called to the hospital as her daughter had started coughing heavily. 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 at the Gymkhana Cricket Ground. Zoheb sang a compilation of his most well-known songs to the 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 described by The News International as "one of the best concerts ever seen in Pakistan".

On 23 March 2002, the Government of Pakistan posthumously conferred the Pride of Performance award, the highest civilian award in the country, upon Nazia Hassan. The award was presented to Muniza Basir, Nazia's mother, 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. He also started his own media company, B&H International Pvt. Limited.

In 2003, Nazia's family established the Nazia Hassan Foundation, a charitable organization, in her name.

Zoheb Hassan acted in the drama serial "Kismat" in 2006 and released his solo album of the same title. Soon after, he decided to quit his music career to focus on his family's property and media business.

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

1. Kismet (Geo TV, 2006)

• List of Pakistani music bands
• Biddu
• Nermin Niazi and Feisal Mosleh (known for 1984's Disco Se Aagay)^{[10][11][12][13]}