Known for her distinctive voice and unique style, living legend Usha Uthup is a celebrated Indian pop, jazz, and playback singer with a musical repertoire spanning over five decades. Uthup has sung in more than 22 languages. Her evergreen classics, including “Hari Om,” “Rambha Ho,” and “Jeete Hai Shaan Se,” continue to resonate with audiences of all ages.
Over the years, Uthup has become a cultural icon with her trademark Bindi look and kanjivaram saris. It’s really a strange and empowering phenomenon to witness a Sari-clad woman singing pop and jazz with such fineness and artistry, which is hard to witness in the whole wide world.
“The audience to me has changed only cosmetically but their love, care and profound respect towards me is the same as it was before”
Usha Uthup
Her remarkable journey is an open book to anyone who’s had the pleasure of witnessing her captivating performances. She had personal and loving connection with Mother Teresa. She even performed at her canonisation ceremony in the Vatican. In her extraordinary musical journey, she shared moments with luminaries such as Nelson Mandela, Jane Fonda, Asha Bhosle, Raj Kapoor, and many more.
Early Life and Education
Usha Uthup was born on November 7, 1947, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, into a Tamil Brahmin Iyer family. Her father, Vaidyanath Someshwar Sami Iyer, was the Deputy Commissioner in the Bombay Police. Usha grew up in a musically inclined family. Hwhere her parents exposed her to a wide range of music, from Western classical to Hindustani and Carnatic. She also listned to legends like Kishori Amonkar and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Despite not receiving formal training in music, Usha’s natural talent and passion for singing were evident from a young age.
She attended St. Agnes High School in Byculla, Mumbai. Interestingly, she was once thrown out of music class because her voice didn’t fit the conventional mold. However, her music teacher recognised her potential and encouraged her to pursue her passion.
Musical Journey
Usha Uthup’s musical journey began in 1969, when she started performing at small nightclubs in Chennai. Her first public performance was at the Nine Gems nightclub in the basement of the erstwhile Safire Theatre complex on Mount Road, Chennai. People loved her performance so much that management asked her to stay on for a week. This marked the beginning of her illustrious career.
Usha’s unique voice and charismatic stage presence quickly gained her popularity. She began performing at nightclubs in Kolkata, such as Trincas, where she became a regular performer. She also sang at the Oberoi Hotel Delhi, where Dev Anand noticed her and invited her to sing for his film. Her performances at these nightclubs caught the attention of many music directors and filmmakers, leading to her entry into the world of playback singing.
Usha Uthup in Films
Usha Uthup made her debut as a playback singer with the Merchant-Ivory’s “Bombay Talkie” in 1970. In the film she sang the songs “Good Times and Bad Times” and “Hari Om Tat Sat.” Her powerful voice and unique style made her stand out, and she went on to sing for several Hindi films. One of her earliest hit was “Hare Rama Hare Krishna,” from Dev Anand’s “Hare Rama Hare Krishna.”
Usha was instantly noticed for her powerful voice, which was totally different from the usual singers of that time. In the changing music scene of Hindi films, she was well received, and her voice was used innovatively by many music directors like R. D. Burman, Bappi Lahiri, and M.S. Viswanathan. Besides Hindi, she also sang for Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu films.
Some of her most famous songs include “One Two Cha Cha Cha (Shalimar), “Listen To The Pouring Rain (Bombay To Goa),” “Hari Om Hari (Pyaara Dushman),” “Doston Se Pyar Kiya (Shaan),” “Shaan Se… (Shaan),” “Ramba Ho (Armaan),” “Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai (Wardat),” “Auva Auva Koi Yahaan Aha Naache Naache (Disco Dancer),” “Daud (Daud),” “Vande Mataram (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham),” “Kabhi Pa Liya Tho Kabhi Kho Diya (Jogger’s Park),” “Din Hai Na Ye Raat (Bhoot),” “Darling (7 Khoon Maaf)”, “Ramba main Samba (Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi),” “Aami Shotti Bolchi (Kahaani),” and ”Drishyam 2 Title Track.”
Usha Uthup, Other Name of Versatality
In addition to her work in Hindi music, Usha has also sung in Bangla, Punjabi, Assamese, Oriya, Khasi, Gujurati, Marathi, Konkani, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu, as well as in French, German, Italian, Sinhalese, Swahili, Russian, Nepalese, Arabic, Creole, and of course, English. Her versatility as a singer and her ability to adapt to different musical styles have made her a beloved figure in the Indian music industry.
In 1968, Usha Uthup recorded covers of “Jambalaya” and “Greenback Dollar” on the EP “Love Story,” along with “Scotch and Soda,” which sold well in India. Her first album with Luis Banks marked the beginning of numerous recordings. Usha’s Hindi version of Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,” titled “Chhupke Kaon Aya,” is featured on Tom Middleton’s album “The Trip” (2004).
She also covered Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” on Middleton’s “Cosmosonica—Crazy Covers Vol. 1” (2005). In 2007, she recorded “Rhythm and Blues” with the Indian rock band Parikrama. Uthup also sang for a two-volume collection of children’s rhymes, “Karadi Rhymes.”
Personal Life and Legacy
Usha Uthup first married Ramu Iyer. Unfortunately, Ramu passed away after some time. She later married Jani Chacko Uthup, a businessman from the Manarcaud Painumkal family of Kottayam. The couple had two children, a daughter named Anjali and a son named Sunny. Jani Chacko Uthup passed away due to cardiac arrest on July 8, 2024.
“I am learning how to be detached. I hate myself for being so possessive, not of material things, but just of love and people”
Usha Uthup
Usha Uthup’s contributions to music have been recognised with numerous awards and honors. In 2011, she gets the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for her contributions to music. In 2024, she was conferred the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award.
Usha Uthup’s legacy extends beyond her music. She has been a pioneer in popularising Indian pop and jazz music and has inspired countless young artists to explore and embrace their cultural roots. Her distinctive voice, unique style, and charismatic stage presence have made her an iconic figure in the Indian music industry.
Despite facing numerous challenges, Usha’s passion for music and her dedication to her craft have remained unwavering. Her journey from a young girl with a passion for singing to an iconic singer is a testament to her talent, resilience, and determination.
Usha Uthup on IMDB
