Pakistanis Commemorate Pop Icon Nazia Hassan 24 Years Later.
LAHORE– It has been 24 years since the death of iconic pop vocalist Nazia Hassan.
On Tuesday (today), her fans in Pakistan and internationally will mark the 24th anniversary of her death.
Nazia Hassan’s Journey
Nazia Hassan’s singing career began at a young age with the song “Aap Jaisa Koi…”, which catapulted her to international stardom.
Born on April 3, 1965, she rose to notoriety through the immensely famous Pakistani television show Sung Sung, becoming a household name in the late 1980s.
Her sudden death on August 13, a day before Independence Day, left the nation devastated.
PRIDE IN PERFORMANCE
Nazia Hassan has garnered various national and international distinctions, including Pakistan’s highest civic award, Pride of Performance.
In 1980, Nazia made her singing debut with “Aap Jaisa Koi.” Her debut album, Disco Deewane, released in 1981, was the best-selling Asian pop album of the time, reaching audiences in 14 countries.
The classic “Disco Deewane” became a youth song, inspiring a part in Karan Johar’s 2012 film Student of the Year.
Nazia Hassan, when she was 15, became the first Pakistani vocalist to win an Indian Filmfare Award in 1980.
Death of a Dream
Nazia Hassan died of lung cancer at the age of 35 in London on August 13, 2000, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire future generations.
Those who remember Pakistan in the late 1980s understand what figures like Nazia Hassan meant to the country. She was the face of PTV, the only source of entertainment at the time for music fans and families.
Many recall her death on August 13 (a day before Independence Day), which left the country in a palpable state of sadness. The news cast a cloud over the I-D celebrations, as it involved more than just the loss of an idol. It was the end of a dream.
