LONDON: Nazia Hasan, whose young and melodious voice stormed the young hearts of millions in the subcontinent some 20 years ago, lost her battle against cancer in a north London hospice on Sunday morning. Nazia, in her 30s, had been suffering from cancer for over four years and was under constant treatment including chemotherapy.

She was admitted to North Finchley Hospice three days ago when her condition suddenly deteriorated. She showed signs of mild recovery on Saturday and it was thought that doctors would allow her to go home. But early Sunday morning, her mother, Muneeza Hasan, was called to the hospital where her daughter had started coughing heavily at around 9:15am. She died within minutes.

Family sources said Nazia got better after initial treatment but the killer disease returned some one and half year ago and spread in the chest region. She was undergoing chemotherapy for the last eight months and felt better. She had, in recent times, expressed her determination to beat the malaise that had affected her body over the years, but that was not to be.

Both, her father, Baseer Hasan, and brother, Zohaib, were in Karachi and are rushing to London to the rest of the family members who are still in shock. The decision about her burial will be taken after her father's arrival but family sources have pointed to the possibility of sending her body to Pakistan for burial. The news of Nazia's sudden death has sent shock waves to almost all the Asian community irrespective of their origin.

While talking to The News, Biddu, the Indian musician who introduced Nazia to the world of music, said he was devastated. He said he couldn't believe that such a fresh voice and a friend had gone. "Nazia was very worried about her married life, custody of the child but had expressed her determination to fight the disease. It's very hard to believe that I won't see her again."

Nazia was the first British Asian girl of Pakistani origin to make an impact on the Bollywood music industry apart from altogether sweeping the Pakistani pop scene. she was the first real pop star of the Indian music.

Gifted as she was, Nazia sprang into stardom with her Indian film (Qurbani) song "Aap Jesa Koyi Meri Zindagi Mein Aaye". The song was followed by another hit "Disco Deewane" which took the young generation of the sub-continent by storm. The true fame came Nazia and her brother Zohaib's way with their electrifying songs on the Indian film "Star'.

Nazia Hassan and Zohaib Hassan, who formed a perfect duo together, then traveled to Pakistan in early 80's and released their first Volume 'Young Tarang'. The volume contained famous songs like "Dum Dum Dee Dee Dum Dum". The volume was followed by a few more, which took their graph further up with several hit songs. They, along with Alamgir and Muhammad Ali Shahki, could be called the trend-setters of disco music in Pakistan.

In 1987, EMI released a volume 'Hotline' featuring Nazia and Zohaib. It contained popular songs "Hum Aur Tum, Tum or Hum' and "Aisa Kya Hai Paisa'. The brother and sister also made several appearances on Pakistan Television. Besides performing in 'Silver Jubilee', the popular star show compered by Anwar Maqsood, Nazia and Zohaib also performed in a special show, again having Anwar Maqsood as compere.

Their last volume was "Camera Camera" (released in early 90's), which consisted of such popular and melodious songs as "Taali De Thale Beh Kay". The song was also presented by the Pakistan Television and it starred garlanded Nazia singing in a joyous spring mood.

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