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{{Short description|Indian | {{Short description|Indian singer & actress (born 1947)}} | ||
{{ | {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date= | {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} | ||
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See | {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Bharatpedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | ||
| name = Usha Uthup | | name = Usha Uthup | ||
| background = solo_singer | | background = solo_singer | ||
| image = Usha | | image = Usha Uthupji.jpg | ||
| caption = Usha | | caption = Usha Uthup, {{circa|2024}} | ||
| image_size = | | image_size = | ||
| alias = Didi | | alias = Didi | ||
| birth_name = Usha | | birth_name = Usha Iyer | ||
| birth_date = | | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1947|11|08}} | ||
| birth_place = [[Bombay]], [[ | | birth_place = [[Bombay]], [[Maharashtra State]], [[Dominion of India]]<br />(present day Mumbai, [[Maharashtra]], India) | ||
| instrument = [[Vocalist]] | | instrument = [[Vocalist]] | ||
| genre = [[Indian pop]], [[ | | genre = [[Indian pop]], [[filmi]], [[jazz]], [[R&B]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Sundar |first=Pavitra |date=2020 |editor-last1=Brueck |editor-first1=Laura |editor-last2=Smith |editor-first2=Jacob |editor-last3=Verma |editor-first3=Neil |title=Indian Sound Cultures, Indian Sound Citizenship |publisher=University of Michigan Press |pages=140 |chapter=Usha Uthup and Her Husky, Heavy Voice |isbn=978-0-472-07434-1}}</ref> [[Indian classical music]], [[Classical music|Western]] | ||
| occupation = {{hlist|Playback singer| | | occupation = {{hlist|Playback singer|actress}} | ||
| years_active = 1966 – present | | years_active = 1966 – present | ||
| | | module = {{Infobox person | ||
| embed = yes | |||
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2011)<br/>[[Padma Bhushan]] (2024) | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Usha Uthup | }} | ||
'''Usha Iyer Uthup''' (born 8 November 1947) is an Indian singer known for her deep [[contralto]] voice and her versatility across genres and languages. A prominent figure in Indian music since the 1970s, she has received a [[Filmfare Award]], and was honoured by the [[Government of India]] with the [[Padma Shri]] in 2011 and the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 2024 for her contribution in the field of arts.<ref name=tt>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/music/news-and-interviews/Im-thrilled-beyond-comprehension-Usha-Uthup/articleshow/7366271.cms |title=I'm thrilled beyond comprehension: Usha Uthup |date=26 January 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219071211/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/music/news-and-interviews/Im-thrilled-beyond-comprehension-Usha-Uthup/articleshow/7366271.cms |archive-date=19 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/2024-padma-awards-full-list/article67777593.ece |title=2024 Padma awards |date=25 January 2024 |website=The Hindu}}</ref> | |||
==Personal life== | |||
Usha was born on 8 November 1947<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2011 |title=Nov 8th: Happy Birthday Usha Uthup! (Her Most Iconic Songs.) |url=https://www.missmalini.com/2011/11/08/nov-8th-happy-birthday-usha-uthup-her-most-iconic-songs |access-date=16 July 2023 |website=MissMalini |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bureau |first=Odishatv |title=Did you know these interesting facts about the 'Queen of Pop' Usha Uthup, who turns 75 today |url=https://odishatv.in/news/entertainment/did-you-know-these-interesting-facts-about-the-queen-of-pop-usha-uthup-who-turns-75-today-189778 |access-date=16 July 2023 |website=Did you know these interesting facts about the ‘Queen of Pop’ Usha Uthup, who turns 75 today |language=en}}</ref> into a [[Tamils|Tamil]] family<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/good-housekeeping/story/its-great-to-be-me-usha-uthup-112757-2012-08-08 |title=It's Great To Be Me: Usha Uthup |date=8 August 2012 |magazine=[[India Today]] |access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> in [[Mumbai]].<ref name=te>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=hub260211My_Bad.asp |title=Profile: My bad girl voice |volume=8 |issue=8 |date=26 February 2011 |magazine=[[Tehelka]] |access-date=19 February 2011 |archive-date=7 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907135526/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=hub260211My_Bad.asp |url-status=dead}}</ref> Her father was Vaidyanath Someshwar Sami Iyer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Midnight-s-Children/Article1-913683.aspx |title=Midnight's Children |date=14 August 2012 |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815082439/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Midnight-s-Children/Article1-913683.aspx |archive-date=15 August 2012}}</ref> | |||
She studied at St. Agnes High School, [[Byculla]]. When she was in school she was thrown out of music class because she didn't fit in with a voice like hers. But her music teacher recognized that she had some music in her and would give her clappers or triangles to play. Even though she was not formally trained in music, she grew up in an atmosphere of music. Her parents used to listen to a wide range from Western classical to [[Hindustani classical music|Hindustani]] and [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]] including [[Kishori Amonkar]] and [[Bade Ghulam Ali Khan]] on radio and she used to join them.<ref name=hi>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/12/04/stories/2003120400640400.htm |title=Tea, croissants and Usha Uthup |first=Anuj |last=Kumar |date=4 December 2003 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040102000422/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/12/04/stories/2003120400640400.htm |archive-date=2 January 2004}}</ref> She used to enjoy listening to [[Radio Ceylon]]. | |||
Her next door neighbor was S.M.A. Pathan, who was then the deputy commissioner of police. His daughter, Jamila, influenced Usha to learn [[Hindi]] and take up Indian classical music. This fusion approach helped her to pioneer her unique brand of Indian pop in the 1970s. | |||
She was married to Jani Chacko Uthup who hailed from the [[Manarcaud]] Painumkal family of [[Kottayam]]. They have a daughter Anjali and a son Sunny, named after the song, "[[Sunny (Bobby Hebb song)|Sunny]]".<ref name="MidDay">{{cite news |url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/its-a-full-circle-for-usha-uthup/91208 |title=It's a full circle for Usha Uthup |first1=Melissa |last1=Dcosta |first2=Dhvani |last2=Solani |date=11 August 2010 |work=[[Mid-Day]]}}</ref> Her husband, Jani Chacko, died due to a cardiac arrest on 8 July 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment/bollywood/legendary-singer-usha-uthup-s-husband-jani-chacko-uthup-passes-away/ar-BB1pCDl1?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=5a1bdd5208b044b6973efad1c03def98&ei=8|title=Legendary singer Usha Uthup's husband Jani Chacko Uthup passes away |date=9 July 2024 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> | |||
==Career== | == Career == | ||
Usha Uthup | Usha Uthup's first public singing occurred when she was nine. Her sisters, who were already exploring a career in music, introduced her to [[Ameen Sayani]], then the most popular radio announcer in India. Ameen Sayani gave her an opportunity to sing in the Ovaltine Music Hour of Radio Ceylon. She sang a number called "Mockingbird Hill". After that, several appearances followed through her teenage years. | ||
===Singing career=== | ===Singing career=== | ||
Usha Uthup started her music career in Chennai in 1969, singing in a small nightclub called Nine Gems in the basement of the erstwhile [[Safire Theatre complex]] on Mount Road,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/in-conversation-with-usha-uthup-as-she-completes-50-years-as-a-singer/article27325397.ece |title=There's magic about Madras: Usha Uthup |last=Rajendra |first=Ranjani |date=30 May 2019 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=27 July 2019 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-02/news-and-interviews/28368378_1_usha-uthup-padma-shri-manmadhan-ambu |title=Padma Shri is icing on cake for Usha Uthup |first=M. |last=Suganth |date=2 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917151544/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-02/news-and-interviews/28368378_1_usha-uthup-padma-shri-manmadhan-ambu |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |archive-date=17 September 2011}}</ref> wearing a saree and leg | [[Image:Usha Uthup at Toshali National Crafts Mela, Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar 2.jpg|thumb|Uthup during a performance, {{circa|2012}}]] | ||
Uthup started her music career in Chennai in 1969, singing in a small nightclub called Nine Gems in the basement of the erstwhile [[Safire Theatre complex]] on Mount Road,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/in-conversation-with-usha-uthup-as-she-completes-50-years-as-a-singer/article27325397.ece |title=There's magic about Madras: Usha Uthup |last=Rajendra |first=Ranjani |date=30 May 2019 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=27 July 2019 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-02/news-and-interviews/28368378_1_usha-uthup-padma-shri-manmadhan-ambu |title=Padma Shri is icing on cake for Usha Uthup |first=M. |last=Suganth |date=2 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917151544/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-02/news-and-interviews/28368378_1_usha-uthup-padma-shri-manmadhan-ambu |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |archive-date=17 September 2011}}</ref> wearing a saree and leg calipers.{{Citation needed |date=July 2019}} Her performance was so well received that the owner of the nightclub asked her to stay on for a week.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=233 |title='I am completely a people's person...' – Usha Uthup |first=Naveen |last=Frank |date=18 February 2006 |website=[[Daijiworld]] |access-date=28 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517045434/http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=233 |archive-date=17 May 2009}}</ref> After her first night club gig, she began singing in Calcutta at night clubs such as Trincas. She met her future husband, Jani Chacko Uthup, in Trincas . At about the same time, she also sang at "Talk of the Town", now known as "Not Just Jazz by the Bay" in Bombay (now Mumbai).<ref name="MidDay" /> After Trincas, her next engagement took her to Delhi where she sang at the [[Oberoi]] hotels. By happenstance, a film crew belonging to Navketan unit and [[Dev Anand]] visited the nightclub and they offered her a chance to sing movie playback. As a result, she started her Bollywood career with Ivory-Merchant's Bombay Talkies (1970) in which she sang an English number under Shankar-Jaikishan and then ''[[Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971 film)|Hare Rama Hare Krishna]]''. Originally, she was supposed to sing Dum Maro Dum along with Asha Bhosle for Hare Rama Hare Krishna. However, as a result of internal politicking on the part of other singers, she lost that chance but ended up singing an English verse.{{Citation needed |date=July 2019}} | |||
In 1968, she recorded covers of two pop songs in English, "[[Jambalaya (On the Bayou)|Jambalaya]]" and [[The Kingston Trio]]'s "Greenback Dollar", on an [[Extended play|EP]], ''Love Story'', and "Scotch and Soda", another Kingston Trio song, which sold very well in the Indian market. She also spent some time in London during this early period. She was a frequent visitor to [[Vernon Corea]]'s [[BBC]] office at the Langham in London and was interviewed on ''[[London Sounds Eastern]]'' on [[BBC Radio London]]. | In 1968, she recorded covers of two pop songs in English, "[[Jambalaya (On the Bayou)|Jambalaya]]" and [[The Kingston Trio]]'s "Greenback Dollar", on an [[Extended play|EP]], ''Love Story'', and "Scotch and Soda", another Kingston Trio song, which sold very well in the Indian market. She also spent some time in London during this early period. She was a frequent visitor to [[Vernon Corea]]'s [[BBC]] office at the Langham in London and was interviewed on ''[[London Sounds Eastern]]'' on [[BBC Radio London]]. | ||
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Uthup also sang for a two-volume collection of children's rhymes "Karadi Rhymes", which are "Indian Rhymes for Indian Kids", brought out by Karadi Tales ([http://www.karaditales.com www.karaditales.com]). The rhymes reflect the Indian ethos through the Sa-re-ga-ma, mangoes, Indian rivers, the train experiences, Indian festivals, indigenous trees, Cricket, Indian foods like bhelpuri and sambhar, Indian attire like the dhoti, sari, bindi and bangles and even some folk tales. With each rhyme set to an Indian raga, and sung in her characteristic voice with a feisty tempo, Usha creates the atmosphere for children and, surprisingly, even adults to sing along and dance to the toe-tapping beats. | Uthup also sang for a two-volume collection of children's rhymes "Karadi Rhymes", which are "Indian Rhymes for Indian Kids", brought out by Karadi Tales ([http://www.karaditales.com www.karaditales.com]). The rhymes reflect the Indian ethos through the Sa-re-ga-ma, mangoes, Indian rivers, the train experiences, Indian festivals, indigenous trees, Cricket, Indian foods like bhelpuri and sambhar, Indian attire like the dhoti, sari, bindi and bangles and even some folk tales. With each rhyme set to an Indian raga, and sung in her characteristic voice with a feisty tempo, Usha creates the atmosphere for children and, surprisingly, even adults to sing along and dance to the toe-tapping beats. | ||
She appeared as a judge on a singing reality show ''[[Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star]]'' – Season 2 (2012), aired on [[DD National]] channel, along with [[Ismail Darbar]]. She is the judge in the Season 3 of the show as well. She also appeared as a chief guest for Marathi singing reality show. She entertained the audience with Marathi songs. | She appeared as a judge on a singing reality show ''[[Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star]]'' – Season 2 (2012), aired on [[DD National]] channel, along with [[Ismail Darbar]]. She is the judge in the Season 3 of the show as well. She also appeared as a chief guest for Marathi singing reality show. She entertained the audience with Marathi songs. She was also a judge in [[Star Vijay| Star Vijay's]] Airtel Super Singer Junior Season 1 and [[Airtel Super Singer 5]]. She appeared on the Kapil Sharma Show on 26 May 2019. | ||
She is a stage performer and | She is a stage performer and gives performances all over the world and is known for her lively stage presence. Uthup has been felicitated with several awards over the years, some of which include Rajiv Gandhi Purashkar for National Integration for quality music, Mahila Shiromani Purashkar for international peace, and Channel [V] award for outstanding achievement. | ||
She recorded her first album with Luis Banks for which she was paid Rs. 3500. Since then, she has recorded numerous albums. Usha's Hindi version of Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough", titled "Chhupke Kaon Aya", can be found on the album ''Tom Middleton – The Trip'' (2004). A cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" is on another Tom Middleton album, ''Cosmosonica – Tom Middleton Presents Crazy Covers Vol. 1'' (2005). She recorded a song called "Rhythm and Blues" with the Indian rock band [[Parikrama (band)|Parikrama]] which appeared on Channel V on 23 April 2007. Uthup received a lot of recognition for having a unique voice that ranges between contralto and alto.([https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/i-m-a-people-s-singer-usha-uthup/story-aUfpINcGaARcIrwsZLEzqK.html#:~:text=My%20voice%20was%20between%20contralto,I%20was%20determined%20to%20perform.]) | She recorded her first album with Luis Banks for which she was paid Rs. 3500. Since then, she has recorded numerous albums. Usha's Hindi version of Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough", titled "Chhupke Kaon Aya", can be found on the album ''Tom Middleton – The Trip'' (2004). A cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" is on another Tom Middleton album, ''Cosmosonica – Tom Middleton Presents Crazy Covers Vol. 1'' (2005). She recorded a song called "Rhythm and Blues" with the Indian rock band [[Parikrama (band)|Parikrama]] which appeared on Channel V on 23 April 2007. Uthup received a lot of recognition for having a unique voice that ranges between [[contralto]] and [[alto]].([https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/i-m-a-people-s-singer-usha-uthup/story-aUfpINcGaARcIrwsZLEzqK.html#:~:text=My%20voice%20was%20between%20contralto,I%20was%20determined%20to%20perform.]) | ||
===Acting career=== | ===Acting career=== | ||
Uthup is also an actress. In 2006, she acted in the [[Malayalam]] movie ''[[Pothan Vava]]'' as Kurisuveettil Mariamma. | Uthup is also an actress. In 2006, she acted in the [[Malayalam]] movie ''[[Pothan Vava]]'' as Kurisuveettil Mariamma. | ||
She made a cameo appearance in the movie ''Bombay To Goa''. In 2007, she appeared in ''Bow Barracks Forever'' directed by Anjun Dutt as herself. Again in 2007, she appeared in ''Hattrick'' music video as herself. | She made a cameo appearance in the movie ''[[Bombay to Goa (1972 film)|Bombay To Goa]]''. In 2007, she appeared in ''Bow Barracks Forever'' directed by Anjun Dutt as herself. Again in 2007, she appeared in ''Hattrick'' music video as herself. | ||
She appeared in disguise on ''Indian Idol'' 1 and 2. She was one of the co-judges of the 2007 and 2008 and ''Idea Star Singer'' Season V (2010). | She appeared in disguise on ''Indian Idol'' 1 and 2. She was one of the co-judges of the 2007 and 2008 and ''Idea Star Singer'' Season V (2010). | ||
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|''[[Devi (1970 film)|Devi]]'' | |''[[Devi (1970 film)|Devi]]'' | ||
|[[Laxmikant Pyarelal]] | |[[Laxmikant Pyarelal]] | ||
|Hindi | | rowspan="3" |Hindi | ||
|- | |||
|rowspan=2|1971 | |||
|"Mai bhi jaloon tu bhi jale" | |||
|''[[Kabhi Dhoop Kabhi Chhaon (1971 film)|Kabhi Dhoop Kabhi Chhaon]]'' | |||
|[[Chitragupta]] | |||
|- | |- | ||
|"Hare Rama Hare Krishna" | |"Hare Rama Hare Krishna" | ||
|''[[Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971 film)|Hare Rama Hare Krishna]]'' | |''[[Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971 film)|Hare Rama Hare Krishna]]'' | ||
|[[Rahul Dev Burman|R D Burman]] | |[[Rahul Dev Burman|R D Burman]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1974 | |rowspan=2|1974 | ||
|"I am in love" | |"I am in love" | ||
|''[[Kanyakumari]]'' | |''[[Kanyakumari]]'' | ||
|M B Sreenivasan | |M B Sreenivasan | ||
|Malayalam | | rowspan="2" |Malayalam | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Love Is Just Around The Corner" | |"Love Is Just Around The Corner" | ||
|''[[Chattakkari (1974 film)|Chattakkari]]'' | |''[[Chattakkari (1974 film)|Chattakkari]]'' | ||
|[[G. Devarajan]] | |[[G. Devarajan]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1975 | |rowspan=2|1975 | ||
|"Love is beautiful" | |"Love is beautiful" | ||
|''[[Melnaattu Marumagal]]'' | |''[[Melnaattu Marumagal]]'' | ||
|[[Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]] | |[[Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]] | ||
|Tamil | | rowspan="3" |Tamil | ||
|- | |||
|"Hello Lover" | |||
|''[[Idhayakkani]]'' | |||
| rowspan="2" |[[M.S.Viswanathan]] | |||
|- | |- | ||
|1976 | |1976 | ||
|"It's Easy To Fool You" | |"It's Easy To Fool You" | ||
|''[[Oorukku Uzhaippavan]]'' | |''[[Oorukku Uzhaippavan]]'' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan="3" |1977 | |||
|"How Can I Tell You" | |"How Can I Tell You" | ||
|rowspan="2"|''Sangharsha'' | | rowspan="2" |''Sangharsha'' | ||
|rowspan="2"|[[Vijaya Bhaskar]] | | rowspan="2" |[[Vijaya Bhaskar]] | ||
|rowspan="2"|[[Kannada]] | | rowspan="2" |[[Kannada]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"We Have Got" | |"We Have Got" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Peethambara O Krishna" | |||
|" | |''Sivathandavam'' (album) | ||
|'' | | | ||
| | | rowspan="2" |Malayalam | ||
| | |||
|- | |- | ||
|1978 | | rowspan="2" |1978 | ||
|"Where there is" | |"Where there is" | ||
|''[[Randu Penkuttikal]]'' | |''[[Randu Penkuttikal]]'' | ||
|M S Vishwanathan | |M S Vishwanathan | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"One Two Cha Cha Cha" | |||
|" | |''[[Shalimar (1978 film)|Shalimar]]'' | ||
|''[[ | | rowspan="3" |[[Rahul Dev Burman|R D Burman]] | ||
|[[ | | rowspan="7" |Hindi | ||
|Hindi | |||
|- | |- | ||
|1980 | | rowspan="3" |1980 | ||
|"Doston Se Pyar Kiya" | |"Doston Se Pyar Kiya" | ||
|''[[Shaan (1980 film)|Shaan]]'' | | rowspan="2" |''[[Shaan (1980 film)|Shaan]]'' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Shaan Se..." | |"Shaan Se..." | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1981 | |"Hari Om Hari" | ||
|''[[Pyaara Dushman]]'' | |||
| rowspan="4" |[[Bappi Lahiri]] | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |1981 | |||
|"Ramba" | |"Ramba" | ||
|''[[Armaan (1981 film)|Armaan]]'' | |''[[Armaan (1981 film)|Armaan]]'' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai" | |"Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai" | ||
|''[[Wardat (1981 film)|Wardat]]'' | |''[[Wardat (1981 film)|Wardat]]'' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1982 | |1982 | ||
|"Koi Yahan Aha Nache Nache" | |"Koi Yahan Aha Nache Nache" | ||
|''[[Disco Dancer]]'' | |''[[Disco Dancer]]'' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1984 | |rowspan=2|1984 | ||
|"Oh my darling" | |"Oh my darling" | ||
|''[[Oru Sumangaliyude Kadha]]'' | |''[[Oru Sumangaliyude Kadha]]'' | ||
|Herself | |Herself | ||
|Malayalam | |Malayalam | ||
|- | |||
|"Hey Diwana" | |||
| ''Kaveri'' | |||
| | |||
| [[Odia language|Odia]] | |||
|- | |- | ||
|rowspan="2"|1988 | |rowspan="2"|1988 | ||
| Line 183: | Line 177: | ||
| [[Hamsalekha]] | | [[Hamsalekha]] | ||
| [[Kannada]] | | [[Kannada]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1990 | |1990 | ||
|"Naaka Bandi" | |"Naaka Bandi" | ||
|''Naaka Bandi'' | |''Naaka Bandi'' | ||
|[[Bappi Lahiri]] | | rowspan="2" |[[Bappi Lahiri]] | ||
|Hindi | | rowspan="2" |Hindi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1991 | |rowspan=3|1991 | ||
|"Uri Uri Baba" | |"Uri Uri Baba" | ||
|''[[Dushman Devta]]'' | |''[[Dushman Devta]]'' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Vegam Vegam Pogum Pogum" | |"Vegam Vegam Pogum Pogum" | ||
|''[[Anjali (1990 film)|Anjali]]'' | |''[[Anjali (1990 film)|Anjali]]'' | ||
|[[Ilaiyaraaja]] | | rowspan="2" |[[Ilaiyaraaja]] | ||
|Tamil | |Tamil | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Keechurallu" | |"Keechurallu" | ||
|''Keechurallu'' | |''Keechurallu'' | ||
|Telugu | |Telugu | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 218: | Line 201: | ||
|''[[Janam (1993 film)|Janam]]'' | |''[[Janam (1993 film)|Janam]]'' | ||
|S P Venkatesh | |S P Venkatesh | ||
|Malayalam | | rowspan="6" |Malayalam | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1994 | |rowspan=3|1994 | ||
|"Njanee Rathriye" | |"Njanee Rathriye" | ||
|''[[Daivathinte Vikrithikal]]'' | |''[[Daivathinte Vikrithikal]]'' | ||
|L Vaidyanathan | |L Vaidyanathan | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Nanthyar Vilakkum" | |"Nanthyar Vilakkum" | ||
|''[[Daivathinte Vikrithikal]]'' | |''[[Daivathinte Vikrithikal]]'' | ||
|[[Mohan Sithara]] | |[[Mohan Sithara]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Mafia" | |"Mafia" | ||
|Mafia | |Mafia | ||
|[[Anand–Milind]] | |[[Anand–Milind]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1995 | |1995 | ||
| Line 242: | Line 220: | ||
|''Kalamasseriyil Kalyaanayogam'' | |''Kalamasseriyil Kalyaanayogam'' | ||
|Tomin Thankachari | |Tomin Thankachari | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1996 | |1996 | ||
| Line 248: | Line 225: | ||
|''[[Mazhayethum Munpe]]'' | |''[[Mazhayethum Munpe]]'' | ||
|R Anand | |R Anand | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1997 | |1997 | ||
| Line 254: | Line 230: | ||
|''[[Daud (film)|Daud]]'' | |''[[Daud (film)|Daud]]'' | ||
|[[A. R. Rahman]] | |[[A. R. Rahman]] | ||
|Hindi | | rowspan="2" |Hindi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1999 | | rowspan="2" |1999 | ||
|"Raja Ki Kahani" | |"Raja Ki Kahani" | ||
|''[[Godmother (film)|Godmother]]'' | |''[[Godmother (film)|Godmother]]'' | ||
|[[Vishal Bhardwaj]] | |[[Vishal Bhardwaj]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2000 | |"Abbabboo Premsite Em Sukhamo" | ||
|''[[Mechanic Mavayya]]'' | |||
|[[M. M. Keeravani]] | |||
|Telugu | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |2000 | |||
|"Melam Lotto" | |"Melam Lotto" | ||
|''Rapid Action Force'' | | rowspan="2" |''Rapid Action Force'' | ||
| | | rowspan="2" |Sailesh | ||
|Malayalam | | rowspan="2" |Malayalam | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Manasilore" | |"Manasilore" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2001 | |2001 | ||
| Line 278: | Line 254: | ||
|''[[Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham]]'' | |''[[Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham]]'' | ||
|[[Jatin–Lalit]], Sandesh Shandilya, Aadesh Shrivastav | |[[Jatin–Lalit]], Sandesh Shandilya, Aadesh Shrivastav | ||
|Hindi | | rowspan="3" |Hindi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2003 | |rowspan=2|2003 | ||
|"Kabhi Pa Liya Tho Kabhi Kho Diya" | |"Kabhi Pa Liya Tho Kabhi Kho Diya" | ||
|''[[Joggers' Park (film)|Jogger's Park]]'' | |''[[Joggers' Park (film)|Jogger's Park]]'' | ||
|Tabun | |Tabun | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Din Hai Na Ye Raat" | |"Din Hai Na Ye Raat" | ||
|''[[Bhoot (film)|Bhoot]]'' | |''[[Bhoot (film)|Bhoot]]'' | ||
|[[Salim–Sulaiman]] | |[[Salim–Sulaiman]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2005 | |2005 | ||
| Line 307: | Line 280: | ||
|''[[Ambi (film)|Ambi]]'' | |''[[Ambi (film)|Ambi]]'' | ||
|[[V. Nagendra Prasad]] | |[[V. Nagendra Prasad]] | ||
|Kannada | | rowspan="2" |Kannada | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Yarivanu" | |"Yarivanu" | ||
|''Shubham'' | |''Shubham'' | ||
|Gurikiran | |Gurikiran | ||
|- | |- | ||
|rowspan="3"|2007 | |rowspan="3"|2007 | ||
| Line 318: | Line 290: | ||
|''[[Hattrick (film)|Hattrick]]'' | |''[[Hattrick (film)|Hattrick]]'' | ||
|[[Pritam]] | |[[Pritam]] | ||
|Hindi | | rowspan="2" |Hindi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Teri Meri Merry Christmas" | |"Teri Meri Merry Christmas" | ||
|''Bow barracks Forever'' | |''Bow barracks Forever'' | ||
|Anjun Dutt | |Anjun Dutt | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Kshana Kshana" | |"Kshana Kshana" | ||
|''[[Kshana Kshana]]'' | |''[[Kshana Kshana]]'' | ||
|[[R. P. Patnaik]] | |[[R. P. Patnaik]] | ||
|Kannada | | rowspan="3" |Kannada | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2008 | |2008 | ||
| Line 334: | Line 305: | ||
|''[[Nee Tata Naa Birla]]'' | |''[[Nee Tata Naa Birla]]'' | ||
|Gurukiran | |Gurukiran | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2009 | |2009 | ||
| Line 340: | Line 310: | ||
|''[[Kannadada Kiran Bedi]]'' | |''[[Kannadada Kiran Bedi]]'' | ||
|Hamsalekha | |Hamsalekha | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2011 | |rowspan=3|2011 | ||
|"Hai Ye Maya" | |"Hai Ye Maya" | ||
|''[[Don 2]]'' | |''[[Don 2]]'' | ||
| Line 348: | Line 317: | ||
|Hindi | |Hindi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Viriyunnu" | |"Viriyunnu" | ||
|''[[Bombay March 12]]'' | |''[[Bombay March 12]]'' | ||
| Line 354: | Line 322: | ||
|Malayalam | |Malayalam | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Darling", "Doosri Darling" (with [[Rekha Bhardwaj]]) | |"Darling", "Doosri Darling" (with [[Rekha Bhardwaj]]) | ||
|''[[7 Khoon Maaf]]'' | |''[[7 Khoon Maaf]]'' | ||
|[[Vishal Bhardwaj]] | |[[Vishal Bhardwaj]] | ||
|Hindi | | rowspan="4" |Hindi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|rowspan="4"|2012 | |rowspan="4"|2012 | ||
| Line 364: | Line 331: | ||
|''[[Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi]]'' | |''[[Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi]]'' | ||
|[[Jeet Ganguly]] | |[[Jeet Ganguly]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Aami Shotti Bolchi" | |"Aami Shotti Bolchi" | ||
|''[[Kahaani]]'' | |''[[Kahaani]]'' | ||
|[[Vishal–Shekhar]] | |[[Vishal–Shekhar]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Yeh Raat Mona Lisa" | |"Yeh Raat Mona Lisa" | ||
|''Kaafiron Ki Namaaz'' | |''Kaafiron Ki Namaaz'' | ||
|Advait Nemlekar | |Advait Nemlekar | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Jhoom Jhoom Zara" | |"Jhoom Jhoom Zara" | ||
| Line 381: | Line 345: | ||
|Kannada | |Kannada | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2014 | |rowspan="2"|2014 | ||
|"Race | |"Race Gurram" | ||
|''[[Race Gurram]]'' | |''[[Race Gurram]]'' | ||
|[[S. Thaman]] | | rowspan="2" |[[S. Thaman]] | ||
|Telugu | |Telugu | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2016 | |"Dumeel" | ||
|''[[Damaal Dumeel]]'' | |||
|Tamil | |||
|- | |||
|rowspan=2|2016 | |||
|"Hoi Kiw/Chalo Chalo" | |"Hoi Kiw/Chalo Chalo" | ||
|''[[Rock On 2]]'' | |''[[Rock On 2]]'' | ||
| Line 393: | Line 361: | ||
|Hindi | |Hindi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|"Dirty Picture" | |"Dirty Picture" | ||
|''[[Thikka]]'' | |''[[Thikka]]'' | ||
| Line 405: | Line 372: | ||
|Malayalam | |Malayalam | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2022 | |2021 | ||
|"Drishyam 2 Title Track" | |||
|''[[Drishyam 2]]'' | |||
|[[Anil Johnson]] | |||
|Malayalam | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="3" |2022 | |||
|"Phire Takao" | |"Phire Takao" | ||
|''[[Kolkatar Harry]]'' | |''[[Kolkatar Harry]]'' | ||
|[[Jeet Ganguly]] | |[[Jeet Ganguly]] | ||
|[[Bengali Language|Bengali]] | | rowspan="2" |[[Bengali Language|Bengali]] | ||
|- | |||
|"Chumbok Mon" | |||
|''[[Kacher Manush]]'' | |||
|Nilayan Chatterjee | |||
|- | |||
|"Drishyam 2 Title Track (Hindi)" | |||
|''[[Drishyam 2 (2022 film)|Drishyam 2]]'' | |||
|[[Devi Sri Prasad]] | |||
|Hindi | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="4"|2024 | |||
| rowspan="4"|"Lucky Baskhar Title Track" | |||
| rowspan="4"|''[[Lucky Baskhar]]'' | |||
| rowspan="4"|[[G. V. Prakash Kumar]] | |||
|Telugu | |||
|- | |||
|Tamil | |||
|- | |||
|Hindi | |||
|- | |||
|Malayalam | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |2025 | |||
|"Azrael" | |||
|''[[L2: Empuraan]]'' | |||
|[[Deepak Dev]] | |||
|Malayalam | |||
|- | |||
|"Ramba Ho" | |||
|''[[Dhurandhar]]'' | |||
|[[Shashwat Sachdev]] | |||
|Hindi | |||
|} | |} | ||
==Filmography== | ==Filmography== | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Year | ! Year | ||
! Title | ! Title | ||
| Line 439: | Line 442: | ||
| ''Ideal Couple'' || Sophy ||[[Malayalam]] | | ''Ideal Couple'' || Sophy ||[[Malayalam]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''[[Keymon & Nani in Space Adventure]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k12/nov/nov62.php |title=Nick's Keymon Ache to make its theatrical debut on 9 November |date=6 November 2012 |website=indiantelevision.com |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref> ||Nani (voice role) || Hindi | |''[[Keymon & Nani in Space Adventure]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k12/nov/nov62.php |title=Nick's Keymon Ache to make its theatrical debut on 9 November |date=6 November 2012 |website=indiantelevision.com |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref> ||Nani (voice role) || rowspan="3" | Hindi | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2015 ||''[[X: Past Is Present]]'' ||Mrs. Baker | | 2015 ||''[[X: Past Is Present]]'' ||Mrs. Baker | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2016 || ''[[Rock On 2]]'' || Herself (cameo) | | 2016 || ''[[Rock On 2]]'' || Herself (cameo) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2019 || ''If Not for You''{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}} || Herself || [[English language|English]] | | 2019 || ''If Not for You''{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}} || Herself || [[English language|English]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2022 || ''[[Achcham Madam Naanam Payirppu]]'' || Charukesi || Tamil | | 2022 || ''[[Achcham Madam Naanam Payirppu]]'' || Charukesi || rowspan="2" | Tamil | ||
|- | |||
|2025 | |||
|''[[Good Bad Ugly]]'' | |||
|Meera Patnayak | |||
|} | |} | ||
===Television=== | ===Television=== | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Year | ! Year | ||
! Title | ! Title | ||
| Line 458: | Line 464: | ||
! Language | ! Language | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |2004–2006||[[Indian Idol]]||Guest||Hindi | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | rowspan="2" |2007–2017 | ||
|[[Super Singer Junior]] | |||
| rowspan="8" |Judge | |||
| rowspan="2" |Tamil | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Super Singer (Tamil TV series)|Super Singer Senior]] | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |2007–2008||[[Star Singer]]||Malayalam | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2011 ||Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champion || [[Kannada]] | |2011 ||Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champion || [[Kannada]] | ||
| Line 472: | Line 481: | ||
| Gaurav Maharashtracha||Marathi | | Gaurav Maharashtracha||Marathi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Kuyil | |Kuyil Paatu||Tamil | ||
|- | |- | ||
|rowspan= | |rowspan=3|2016||Phire Asar Gaan||Bengali | ||
|-. | |-. | ||
|[[Onnum Onnum Moonu]]||Guest ||Malayalam | |[[Onnum Onnum Moonu]]|| rowspan="4" |Guest ||Malayalam | ||
|- | |||
|[[Comedy Nights Bachao]]||rowspan=3 |Hindi | |||
|- | |- | ||
|2018||[[Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala]]|| | |2018||[[Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala]] | ||
|- | |||
|2019||[[The Kapil Sharma Show]] | |||
|} | |} | ||
==Awards and nominations== | ==Awards and nominations== | ||
[[File:The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Padma Shri Award to Smt. Usha Uthup, at an Investiture Ceremony II, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 01, 2011.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Uthup being awarded [[Padma Shri]], {{circa|2011}}]] | |||
[[File:Padma Bhushan Smt Usha Uthup.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Uthup being awarded [[Padma Bhushan]], {{circa|2024}}]] | |||
===Civilian awards=== | ===Civilian awards=== | ||
* [[Padma Shri]] - 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topnews.in/light/usha-uthup-girish-kasaravalli-get-padma-shri-231934 |title=Usha Uthup, Girish Kasaravalli to get Padma Shri |website=TopNews.in |date=25 January 2011 |access-date=13 March 2012}}</ref> – Fourth Highest Civilian Award presented by [[Government of India]] | * [[Padma Shri]] - 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topnews.in/light/usha-uthup-girish-kasaravalli-get-padma-shri-231934 |title=Usha Uthup, Girish Kasaravalli to get Padma Shri |website=TopNews.in |date=25 January 2011 |access-date=13 March 2012 |archive-date=9 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109041410/http://www.topnews.in/light/usha-uthup-girish-kasaravalli-get-padma-shri-231934 |url-status=dead}}</ref> – Fourth Highest Civilian Award presented by [[Government of India]] | ||
* [[Padma Bhushan]] - 2024 – Third Highest Civilian Award presented by [[Government of India]] | |||
===Film awards=== | ===Film awards=== | ||
| Line 497: | Line 513: | ||
! scope="col" |Result | ! scope="col" |Result | ||
! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} | ! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} | ||
|- | |||
|[[57th Filmfare Awards|2012]] | |||
|[[Filmfare Awards]] | |||
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer|Best Female Playback Singer]] | |||
| rowspan="4" |"[[7 Khoon Maaf (soundtrack)|Darling]]" | |||
| rowspan="4" |''[[7 Khoon Maaf]]'' | |||
|{{won}} | |||
| | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[13th IIFA Awards|2012]] | |[[13th IIFA Awards|2012]] | ||
|[[International Indian Film Academy Awards|IIFA Awards]] | |[[International Indian Film Academy Awards|IIFA Awards]] | ||
|[[IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer|Best Female Playback Singer]] | |[[IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer|Best Female Playback Singer]] | ||
|{{nom}} | |{{nom}} | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 516: | Line 538: | ||
|[[Mirchi Music Award for Female Vocalist of The Year|Female Vocalist of The Year]] | |[[Mirchi Music Award for Female Vocalist of The Year|Female Vocalist of The Year]] | ||
|{{nom}} | |{{nom}} | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.radiomirchi.com/mma2011/hindi/nominees.php |title=Nominations - Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2011 |date=30 January 2013 |website=[[Radio Mirchi]] |access-date=24 May 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130161203/http://www.radiomirchi.com/mma2011/hindi/nominees.php |archive-date=30 January 2013 }}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.radiomirchi.com/mma2011/hindi/nominees.php |title=Nominations - Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2011 |date=30 January 2013 |website=[[Radio Mirchi]] |access-date=24 May 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130161203/http://www.radiomirchi.com/mma2011/hindi/nominees.php |archive-date=30 January 2013}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[9th Mirchi Music Awards|2017]] | |[[9th Mirchi Music Awards|2017]] | ||
| Line 565: | Line 587: | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{commons category}} | |||
*{{Official website|http://www.ushauthup.com/}} | *{{Official website|http://www.ushauthup.com/}} | ||
* {{IMDb name|0412683|Usha Uthup}} | * {{IMDb name|0412683|Usha Uthup}} | ||
*{{cite web |title=Before Darrrling, Usha Uthup sang these hit songs! |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-hit-songs-of-usha-uthup/20110217.htm |website=[[Rediff.com]] Movies}} | *{{cite web |title=Before Darrrling, Usha Uthup sang these hit songs! |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-hit-songs-of-usha-uthup/20110217.htm |website=[[Rediff.com]] Movies}} | ||
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2020–2029}} | |||
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}} | {{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}} | ||
| Line 579: | Line 602: | ||
[[Category:Singers from Kolkata]] | [[Category:Singers from Kolkata]] | ||
[[Category:Bengali-language singers]] | [[Category:Bengali-language singers]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Hindi-language playback singers]] | ||
[[Category:English-language singers | [[Category:English-language Indian singers]] | ||
[[Category:Gujarati-language singers]] | [[Category:Gujarati-language singers]] | ||
[[Category:Hindi-language singers]] | [[Category:Hindi-language singers]] | ||
[[Category:Indian women playback singers]] | [[Category:Indian women playback singers]] | ||
[[Category:Tamil playback singers]] | [[Category:Tamil-language playback singers]] | ||
[[Category:Marathi-language singers]] | [[Category:Marathi-language singers]] | ||
[[Category:Konkani-language singers]] | [[Category:Konkani-language singers]] | ||
[[Category:Nepali-language singers | [[Category:Nepali-language Indian singers]] | ||
[[Category:Singers from Mumbai]] | [[Category:Singers from Mumbai]] | ||
[[Category:Russian-language | [[Category:Russian-language Indian singers]] | ||
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]] | [[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]] | ||
[[Category:Kannada playback singers]] | [[Category:Kannada-language playback singers]] | ||
[[Category:Indian women pop singers]] | [[Category:Indian women pop singers]] | ||
[[Category:Indian Tamil people]] | [[Category:Indian Tamil people]] | ||
[[Category:Indian jazz singers]] | [[Category:Indian jazz singers]] | ||
[[Category:Indian women jazz singers]] | [[Category:Indian women jazz singers]] | ||
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]] | [[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]] | ||
[[Category:21st-century Indian women singers]] | [[Category:21st-century Indian women singers]] | ||
| Line 606: | Line 626: | ||
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]] | [[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]] | ||
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]] | [[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]] | ||
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]] | |||
Latest revision as of 14:55, 18 March 2026
Usha Uthup | |
|---|---|
 Usha Uthup, c. 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Usha Iyer |
| Also known as | Didi |
| Born | 8 November 1947 Bombay, Maharashtra State, Dominion of India (present day Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) |
| Genres | Indian pop, filmi, jazz, R&B,[1] Indian classical music, Western |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1966 – present |
| Awards | Padma Shri (2011) Padma Bhushan (2024) |
| 2= | |
Usha Iyer Uthup (born 8 November 1947) is an Indian singer known for her deep contralto voice and her versatility across genres and languages. A prominent figure in Indian music since the 1970s, she has received a Filmfare Award, and was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri in 2011 and the Padma Bhushan in 2024 for her contribution in the field of arts.[2][3]
Personal life[edit | edit source]
Usha was born on 8 November 1947[4][5] into a Tamil family[6] in Mumbai.[7] Her father was Vaidyanath Someshwar Sami Iyer.[8]
She studied at St. Agnes High School, Byculla. When she was in school she was thrown out of music class because she didn't fit in with a voice like hers. But her music teacher recognized that she had some music in her and would give her clappers or triangles to play. Even though she was not formally trained in music, she grew up in an atmosphere of music. Her parents used to listen to a wide range from Western classical to Hindustani and Carnatic including Kishori Amonkar and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan on radio and she used to join them.[9] She used to enjoy listening to Radio Ceylon.
Her next door neighbor was S.M.A. Pathan, who was then the deputy commissioner of police. His daughter, Jamila, influenced Usha to learn Hindi and take up Indian classical music. This fusion approach helped her to pioneer her unique brand of Indian pop in the 1970s.
She was married to Jani Chacko Uthup who hailed from the Manarcaud Painumkal family of Kottayam. They have a daughter Anjali and a son Sunny, named after the song, "Sunny".[10] Her husband, Jani Chacko, died due to a cardiac arrest on 8 July 2024.[11]
Career[edit | edit source]
Usha Uthup's first public singing occurred when she was nine. Her sisters, who were already exploring a career in music, introduced her to Ameen Sayani, then the most popular radio announcer in India. Ameen Sayani gave her an opportunity to sing in the Ovaltine Music Hour of Radio Ceylon. She sang a number called "Mockingbird Hill". After that, several appearances followed through her teenage years.
Singing career[edit | edit source]
Uthup started her music career in Chennai in 1969, singing in a small nightclub called Nine Gems in the basement of the erstwhile Safire Theatre complex on Mount Road,[12][13] wearing a saree and leg calipers.[citation needed] Her performance was so well received that the owner of the nightclub asked her to stay on for a week.[14] After her first night club gig, she began singing in Calcutta at night clubs such as Trincas. She met her future husband, Jani Chacko Uthup, in Trincas . At about the same time, she also sang at "Talk of the Town", now known as "Not Just Jazz by the Bay" in Bombay (now Mumbai).[10] After Trincas, her next engagement took her to Delhi where she sang at the Oberoi hotels. By happenstance, a film crew belonging to Navketan unit and Dev Anand visited the nightclub and they offered her a chance to sing movie playback. As a result, she started her Bollywood career with Ivory-Merchant's Bombay Talkies (1970) in which she sang an English number under Shankar-Jaikishan and then Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Originally, she was supposed to sing Dum Maro Dum along with Asha Bhosle for Hare Rama Hare Krishna. However, as a result of internal politicking on the part of other singers, she lost that chance but ended up singing an English verse.[citation needed]
In 1968, she recorded covers of two pop songs in English, "Jambalaya" and The Kingston Trio's "Greenback Dollar", on an EP, Love Story, and "Scotch and Soda", another Kingston Trio song, which sold very well in the Indian market. She also spent some time in London during this early period. She was a frequent visitor to Vernon Corea's BBC office at the Langham in London and was interviewed on London Sounds Eastern on BBC Radio London. Usha visited Nairobi as part of an Indian festival. She was so popular that she was invited to stay on. Singing and quite often nationalistic songs in Swahili made her extremely popular and the then President Jomo Kenyatta made her an Honorary Citizen of Kenya. She sang the famous song "Malaika" ('Angel') with Fadhili Williams who was the original singer. She produced a record "Live in Nairobi" with a local band Fellini Five.
Uthup sang several songs in the 1970s and 1980s for music directors R. D. Burman and Bappi Lahiri. She also reprised some of R. D. Burman songs that were sung by others such as "Mehbooba Mehbooba" and "Dum Maro Dum" and popularised them to a distinct end.[15]
Uthup also sang for a two-volume collection of children's rhymes "Karadi Rhymes", which are "Indian Rhymes for Indian Kids", brought out by Karadi Tales (www.karaditales.com). The rhymes reflect the Indian ethos through the Sa-re-ga-ma, mangoes, Indian rivers, the train experiences, Indian festivals, indigenous trees, Cricket, Indian foods like bhelpuri and sambhar, Indian attire like the dhoti, sari, bindi and bangles and even some folk tales. With each rhyme set to an Indian raga, and sung in her characteristic voice with a feisty tempo, Usha creates the atmosphere for children and, surprisingly, even adults to sing along and dance to the toe-tapping beats.
She appeared as a judge on a singing reality show Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star – Season 2 (2012), aired on DD National channel, along with Ismail Darbar. She is the judge in the Season 3 of the show as well. She also appeared as a chief guest for Marathi singing reality show. She entertained the audience with Marathi songs. She was also a judge in Star Vijay's Airtel Super Singer Junior Season 1 and Airtel Super Singer 5. She appeared on the Kapil Sharma Show on 26 May 2019.
She is a stage performer and gives performances all over the world and is known for her lively stage presence. Uthup has been felicitated with several awards over the years, some of which include Rajiv Gandhi Purashkar for National Integration for quality music, Mahila Shiromani Purashkar for international peace, and Channel [V] award for outstanding achievement.
She recorded her first album with Luis Banks for which she was paid Rs. 3500. Since then, she has recorded numerous albums. Usha's Hindi version of Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough", titled "Chhupke Kaon Aya", can be found on the album Tom Middleton – The Trip (2004). A cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" is on another Tom Middleton album, Cosmosonica – Tom Middleton Presents Crazy Covers Vol. 1 (2005). She recorded a song called "Rhythm and Blues" with the Indian rock band Parikrama which appeared on Channel V on 23 April 2007. Uthup received a lot of recognition for having a unique voice that ranges between contralto and alto.([1])
Acting career[edit | edit source]
Uthup is also an actress. In 2006, she acted in the Malayalam movie Pothan Vava as Kurisuveettil Mariamma.
She made a cameo appearance in the movie Bombay To Goa. In 2007, she appeared in Bow Barracks Forever directed by Anjun Dutt as herself. Again in 2007, she appeared in Hattrick music video as herself.
She appeared in disguise on Indian Idol 1 and 2. She was one of the co-judges of the 2007 and 2008 and Idea Star Singer Season V (2010).
She has a minor role in the 2010 Tamil movie Manmadan Ambu.
She also acted in Vishal Bhardwaj's 7 Khoon Maaf as a maid. She has also sung a song in the film which released on 18 February 2011. In 2012, she has starred in a Kannada film Parie.
In 2019, she appeared in the documentary If Not for You[citation needed] for which, she recorded a cover of "Blowin' in the Wind" by legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.[citation needed]
Discography[edit | edit source]
| Year | Song | Film | Composer | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | "Jogan Pritam Ki" | Devi | Laxmikant Pyarelal | Hindi |
| 1971 | "Mai bhi jaloon tu bhi jale" | Kabhi Dhoop Kabhi Chhaon | Chitragupta | |
| "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" | Hare Rama Hare Krishna | R D Burman | ||
| 1974 | "I am in love" | Kanyakumari | M B Sreenivasan | Malayalam |
| "Love Is Just Around The Corner" | Chattakkari | G. Devarajan | ||
| 1975 | "Love is beautiful" | Melnaattu Marumagal | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | Tamil |
| "Hello Lover" | Idhayakkani | M.S.Viswanathan | ||
| 1976 | "It's Easy To Fool You" | Oorukku Uzhaippavan | ||
| 1977 | "How Can I Tell You" | Sangharsha | Vijaya Bhaskar | Kannada |
| "We Have Got" | ||||
| "Peethambara O Krishna" | Sivathandavam (album) | Malayalam | ||
| 1978 | "Where there is" | Randu Penkuttikal | M S Vishwanathan | |
| "One Two Cha Cha Cha" | Shalimar | R D Burman | Hindi | |
| 1980 | "Doston Se Pyar Kiya" | Shaan | ||
| "Shaan Se..." | ||||
| "Hari Om Hari" | Pyaara Dushman | Bappi Lahiri | ||
| 1981 | "Ramba" | Armaan | ||
| "Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai" | Wardat | |||
| 1982 | "Koi Yahan Aha Nache Nache" | Disco Dancer | ||
| 1984 | "Oh my darling" | Oru Sumangaliyude Kadha | Herself | Malayalam |
| "Hey Diwana" | Kaveri | Odia | ||
| 1988 | "Sidhartha" | Sidhartha | Shyam | Malayalam |
| "Akka Alla Tangi Alla" | Vijaya Khadga | Hamsalekha | Kannada | |
| 1990 | "Naaka Bandi" | Naaka Bandi | Bappi Lahiri | Hindi |
| 1991 | "Uri Uri Baba" | Dushman Devta | ||
| "Vegam Vegam Pogum Pogum" | Anjali | Ilaiyaraaja | Tamil | |
| "Keechurallu" | Keechurallu | Telugu | ||
| 1993 | "Chalo Chalk" | Janam | S P Venkatesh | Malayalam |
| 1994 | "Njanee Rathriye" | Daivathinte Vikrithikal | L Vaidyanathan | |
| "Nanthyar Vilakkum" | Daivathinte Vikrithikal | Mohan Sithara | ||
| "Mafia" | Mafia | Anand–Milind | ||
| 1995 | "Jinka Ninja" | Kalamasseriyil Kalyaanayogam | Tomin Thankachari | |
| 1996 | "Ladies college campusil" | Mazhayethum Munpe | R Anand | |
| 1997 | "Daud" | Daud | A. R. Rahman | Hindi |
| 1999 | "Raja Ki Kahani" | Godmother | Vishal Bhardwaj | |
| "Abbabboo Premsite Em Sukhamo" | Mechanic Mavayya | M. M. Keeravani | Telugu | |
| 2000 | "Melam Lotto" | Rapid Action Force | Sailesh | Malayalam |
| "Manasilore" | ||||
| 2001 | "Vande Mataram" | Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham | Jatin–Lalit, Sandesh Shandilya, Aadesh Shrivastav | Hindi |
| 2003 | "Kabhi Pa Liya Tho Kabhi Kho Diya" | Jogger's Park | Tabun | |
| "Din Hai Na Ye Raat" | Bhoot | Salim–Sulaiman | ||
| 2005 | "Rambhe Ninge" | Swamy | Gurukiran | Kannada |
| 2006 | "Vaave Makane" | Pothan Vava | Alex Paul | Malayalam |
| "Meter Iddone" | Ambi | V. Nagendra Prasad | Kannada | |
| "Yarivanu" | Shubham | Gurikiran | ||
| 2007 | "Wicket Bacha" (with Earl) | Hattrick | Pritam | Hindi |
| "Teri Meri Merry Christmas" | Bow barracks Forever | Anjun Dutt | ||
| "Kshana Kshana" | Kshana Kshana | R. P. Patnaik | Kannada | |
| 2008 | "Yavva Yavva Naa Hege" | Nee Tata Naa Birla | Gurukiran | |
| 2009 | "Gudsu Gudsu" | Kannadada Kiran Bedi | Hamsalekha | |
| 2011 | "Hai Ye Maya" | Don 2 | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | Hindi |
| "Viriyunnu" | Bombay March 12 | Afzal Yusuf | Malayalam | |
| "Darling", "Doosri Darling" (with Rekha Bhardwaj) | 7 Khoon Maaf | Vishal Bhardwaj | Hindi | |
| 2012 | "Ramba main Samba" | Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi | Jeet Ganguly | |
| "Aami Shotti Bolchi" | Kahaani | Vishal–Shekhar | ||
| "Yeh Raat Mona Lisa" | Kaafiron Ki Namaaz | Advait Nemlekar | ||
| "Jhoom Jhoom Zara" | Parie | Veer Samarth | Kannada | |
| 2014 | "Race Gurram" | Race Gurram | S. Thaman | Telugu |
| "Dumeel" | Damaal Dumeel | Tamil | ||
| 2016 | "Hoi Kiw/Chalo Chalo" | Rock On 2 | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | Hindi |
| "Dirty Picture" | Thikka | S. Thaman | Telugu | |
| 2019 | "Empuraane" | Lucifer | Deepak Dev | Malayalam |
| 2021 | "Drishyam 2 Title Track" | Drishyam 2 | Anil Johnson | Malayalam |
| 2022 | "Phire Takao" | Kolkatar Harry | Jeet Ganguly | Bengali |
| "Chumbok Mon" | Kacher Manush | Nilayan Chatterjee | ||
| "Drishyam 2 Title Track (Hindi)" | Drishyam 2 | Devi Sri Prasad | Hindi | |
| 2024 | "Lucky Baskhar Title Track" | Lucky Baskhar | G. V. Prakash Kumar | Telugu |
| Tamil | ||||
| Hindi | ||||
| Malayalam | ||||
| 2025 | "Azrael" | L2: Empuraan | Deepak Dev | Malayalam |
| "Ramba Ho" | Dhurandhar | Shashwat Sachdev | Hindi |
Filmography[edit | edit source]
| Year | Title | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Bombay to Goa | Hindi | |
| 1975 | Melnaattu Marumagal | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Pothan Vava | Kurisuveettil Mariamma | Malayalam |
| 2007 | Bow Barracks Forever | Herself | English |
| Hattrick | Hindi | ||
| 2010 | Manmadan Ambu | Indira | Tamil |
| 2011 | 7 Khoon Maaf | Maggie Aunty | Hindi |
| 2012 | Parie | Kannada | |
| Ideal Couple | Sophy | Malayalam | |
| Keymon & Nani in Space Adventure[16] | Nani (voice role) | Hindi | |
| 2015 | X: Past Is Present | Mrs. Baker | |
| 2016 | Rock On 2 | Herself (cameo) | |
| 2019 | If Not for You[citation needed] | Herself | English |
| 2022 | Achcham Madam Naanam Payirppu | Charukesi | Tamil |
| 2025 | Good Bad Ugly | Meera Patnayak |
Television[edit | edit source]
| Year | Title | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2006 | Indian Idol | Guest | Hindi |
| 2007–2017 | Super Singer Junior | Judge | Tamil |
| Super Singer Senior | |||
| 2007–2008 | Star Singer | Malayalam | |
| 2011 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champion | Kannada | |
| 2012 | Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star – Season 2 | Hindi | |
| Gaurav Maharashtracha | Marathi | ||
| Kuyil Paatu | Tamil | ||
| 2016 | Phire Asar Gaan | Bengali | |
| Onnum Onnum Moonu | Guest | Malayalam | |
| Comedy Nights Bachao | Hindi | ||
| 2018 | Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala | ||
| 2019 | The Kapil Sharma Show |
Awards and nominations[edit | edit source]
Civilian awards[edit | edit source]
- Padma Shri - 2011[17] – Fourth Highest Civilian Award presented by Government of India
- Padma Bhushan - 2024 – Third Highest Civilian Award presented by Government of India
Film awards[edit | edit source]
 |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Song | Film | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Filmfare Awards | Best Female Playback Singer | "Darling" | 7 Khoon Maaf | Won | |
| 2012 | IIFA Awards | Best Female Playback Singer | Nominated | |||
| 2012 | Screen Awards | Best Female Playback Singer | Nominated | |||
| 2012 | Mirchi Music Awards | Female Vocalist of The Year | Nominated | [18] | ||
| 2017 | Lifetime Achievement Award | N/A | N/A | Won | ||
| 2006 | Asianet Film Awards | Best Character actress | N/A | Pothan Vava | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Kalakar Awards | Best Audio Album (Bangla) | "Darling" | N/A | Won | |
| 2002 | Chai Silpir Samman | N/A | Won | |||
| 2004 | Best Playback Singer for the film | "Kabhi Pa Liya To Kabhi Kho Diya" | Joggers Park | Won | ||
| 2013 | "Ramba Mein Samba" | Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi | Won |
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Sundar, Pavitra (2020). "Usha Uthup and Her Husky, Heavy Voice". In Brueck, Laura; Smith, Jacob; Verma, Neil (eds.). Indian Sound Cultures, Indian Sound Citizenship. University of Michigan Press. p. 140. ISBN 978-0-472-07434-1.
- ↑ "I'm thrilled beyond comprehension: Usha Uthup". The Times of India. 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011.
- ↑ "2024 Padma awards". The Hindu. 25 January 2024.
- ↑ "Nov 8th: Happy Birthday Usha Uthup! (Her Most Iconic Songs.)". MissMalini. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ↑ Bureau, Odishatv. "Did you know these interesting facts about the 'Queen of Pop' Usha Uthup, who turns 75 today". Did you know these interesting facts about the ‘Queen of Pop’ Usha Uthup, who turns 75 today. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ↑ "It's Great To Be Me: Usha Uthup". India Today. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- ↑ "Profile: My bad girl voice". Tehelka. Vol. 8, no. 8. 26 February 2011. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- ↑ "Midnight's Children". Hindustan Times. 14 August 2012. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012.
- ↑ Kumar, Anuj (4 December 2003). "Tea, croissants and Usha Uthup". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 January 2004.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Dcosta, Melissa; Solani, Dhvani (11 August 2010). "It's a full circle for Usha Uthup". Mid-Day.
- ↑ "Legendary singer Usha Uthup's husband Jani Chacko Uthup passes away". The Times of India. 9 July 2024.
- ↑ Rajendra, Ranjani (30 May 2019). "There's magic about Madras: Usha Uthup". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ↑ Suganth, M. (2 February 2011). "Padma Shri is icing on cake for Usha Uthup". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011.
- ↑ Frank, Naveen (18 February 2006). "'I am completely a people's person...' – Usha Uthup". Daijiworld. Archived from the original on 17 May 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
- ↑ Nadadhur, Srivathsan (14 September 2015). "Usha Uthup wears dignity in her tone". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ↑ "Nick's Keymon Ache to make its theatrical debut on 9 November". indiantelevision.com. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ↑ "Usha Uthup, Girish Kasaravalli to get Padma Shri". TopNews.in. 25 January 2011. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- ↑ "Nominations - Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2011". Radio Mirchi. 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2018.