Usha Uthup
Usha Uthup | |
|---|---|
 Usha Uthup,c. 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Usha Iyer |
| Also known as | Didi |
| Born | 8 November 1947 Bombay,Bombay State,Dominion of India (present day Mumbai,Maharashtra,India) |
| Genres | Indian pop,Film,Jazz,R&B,[1]Indian classical music,Western |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instrument(s) | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1966 – present |
| Website | ushauthup |
| Awards | Padma Shri(2011)Padma Bhushan(2024) |
Usha Uthup Iyeris anIndian pop,filmi,jazz,andplayback singerduring the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.[2]
She also sang the title song for the showSarabhai vs Sarabhaiin its first season. In 2024, she was awarded thePadma Bhushan,the third highest civilian Award presented byGovernment of India.[3]
Personal life[edit]
Usha was born on 8 November 1947[4][5]into aTamilBrahminIyerfamily[6]inMumbai.[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 recognised 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 toHindustaniandCarnaticincludingKishori AmonkarandBade Ghulam Ali Khanon radio and she used to join them.[9]She used to enjoy listening toRadio Ceylon.
Her next door neighbour was S.M.A. Pathan, who was then the deputy commissioner of police. His daughter, Jamila, influenced Usha to learnHindiand take up Indian classical music. This fusion approach helped her to pioneer her unique brand of Indian pop in the 1970s. She is married to Jani Chacko Uthup who is fromManarcaudPainumkal family ofKottayam,and was formerly married to the late Ramu. They have a daughter Anjali and a son Sunny, named after the song, "Sunny".[10]Her husband, Jani Chacko, died due to cardiac arrest on 8 July 2024.[11]
Career[edit]
Usha Uthup was a judge inStar Vijay'sAirtel Super Singer Junior Season 1 andAirtel Super Singer 5.Her first public singing occurred when she was nine. Her sisters, who were already exploring a career in music, introduced her toAmeen 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]
Usha Uthup started her music career in Chennai in 1969, singing in a small nightclub called Nine Gems in the basement of the erstwhileSafire Theatre complexon Mount Road,[12][13]wearing a saree and leg callipers.[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 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 theOberoihotels. By happenstance, a film crew belonging to Navketan unit andDev Anandvisited 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 Shanker-Jaikishan and thenHare 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"andThe Kingston Trio's "Greenback Dollar", on anEP,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 toVernon Corea'sBBCoffice at the Langham in London and was interviewed onLondon Sounds EasternonBBC 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 directorsR. D. BurmanandBappi 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 showBharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star– Season 2 (2012), aired onDD Nationalchannel, along withIsmail 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 is a stage performer and gave performances all over the world and is known for her lively stage presence. She 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 appeared on the Kapil Sharma Show on 26 May 2019
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 albumTom 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 bandParikramawhich appeared on Channel V on 23 April 2007. Uthup received a lot of recognition for having a unique voice that ranges betweencontraltoandalto.([1])
Acting career[edit]
Uthup is also an actress. In 2006, she acted in theMalayalammoviePothan Vavaas Kurisuveettil Mariamma.
She made a cameo appearance in the movieBombay To Goa.In 2007, she appeared inBow Barracks Foreverdirected by Anjun Dutt as herself. Again in 2007, she appeared inHattrickmusic video as herself.
She appeared in disguise onIndian Idol1 and 2. She was one of the co-judges of the 2007 and 2008 andIdea Star SingerSeason V (2010).
She has a minor role in the 2010 Tamil movieManmadan Ambu.
She also acted in Vishal Bhardwaj's7 Khoon Maafas 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 filmParie.
In 2019, she appeared in the documentaryIf Not for You[citation needed]for which, she recorded a cover of "Blowin' in the Wind"by legendary singer-songwriterBob Dylan.[citation needed]
Discography[edit]
| Year | Song | Film | Composer | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | "Jogan Pritam Ki" | Devi | Laxmikant Pyarelal | Hindi |
| 1971 | "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" | Hare Rama Hare Krishna | R D Burman | Hindi |
| 1974 | "I am in love" | Kanyakumari | M B Sreenivasan | Malayalam |
| 1974 | "Love Is Just Around The Corner" | Chattakkari | G. Devarajan | Malayalam |
| 1975 | "Love is beautiful" | Melnaattu Marumagal | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | Tamil |
| 1975 | "Hello Lover" | Idhayakkani | M.S.Viswanathan | Tamil |
| 1976 | "It's Easy To Fool You" | Oorukku Uzhaippavan | M. S. Viswanathan | Tamil |
| 1977 | "Peethambara" | Siva Thandavum | M B Sreenivasan | Malayalam |
| "How Can I Tell You" | Sangharsha | Vijaya Bhaskar | Kannada | |
| "We Have Got" | ||||
| 1978 | "One Two Cha Cha Cha" | Shalimar | R D Burman | Hindi |
| 1978 | "Where there is" | Randu Penkuttikal | M S Vishwanathan | Malayalam |
| 1980 | "Hari Om Hari" | Pyaara Dushman | Bappi Lahiri | Hindi |
| 1980 | "Doston Se Pyar Kiya" | Shaan | R D Burman | Hindi |
| 1980 | "Shaan Se..." | Shaan | R D Burman | Hindi |
| 1981 | "Ramba" | Armaan | Bappi Lahiri | Hindi |
| 1981 | "Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai" | Wardat | Bappi Lahiri | Hindi |
| 1982 | "Koi Yahan Aha Nache Nache" | Disco Dancer | Bappi Lahiri | Hindi |
| 1984 | "Oh my darling" | Oru Sumangaliyude Kadha | Herself | Malayalam |
| 1988 | "Sidhartha" | Sidhartha | Shyam | Malayalam |
| "Akka Alla Tangi Alla" | Vijaya Khadga | Hamsalekha | Kannada | |
| 1984 | "Hey Diwana" | Kaveri | Odia | |
| 1990 | "Naaka Bandi" | Naaka Bandi | Bappi Lahiri | Hindi |
| 1991 | "Uri Uri Baba" | Dushman Devta | Bappi Lahiri | Hindi |
| 1991 | "Vegam Vegam Pogum Pogum" | Anjali | Ilaiyaraaja | Tamil |
| 1991 | "Keechurallu" | Keechurallu | Ilaiyaraaja | Telugu |
| 1993 | "Chalo Chalk" | Janam | S P Venkatesh | Malayalam |
| 1994 | "Njanee Rathriye" | Daivathinte Vikrithikal | L Vaidyanathan | Malayalam |
| 1994 | "Nanthyar Vilakkum" | Daivathinte Vikrithikal | Mohan Sithara | Malayalam |
| 1994 | "Mafia" | Mafia | Anand–Milind | Malayalam |
| 1995 | "Jinka Ninja" | Kalamasseriyil Kalyaanayogam | Tomin Thankachari | Malayalam |
| 1996 | "Ladies college campusil" | Mazhayethum Munpe | R Anand | Malayalam |
| 1997 | "Daud" | Daud | A. R. Rahman | Hindi |
| 1999 | "Raja Ki Kahani" | Godmother | Vishal Bhardwaj | Hindi |
| 2000 | "Melam Lotto" | Rapid Action Force | sailesh | Malayalam |
| 2000 | "Manasilore" | Rapid Action Force | sailesh | Malayalam |
| 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 | Hindi |
| 2003 | "Din Hai Na Ye Raat" | Bhoot | Salim–Sulaiman | Hindi |
| 2005 | "Rambhe Ninge" | Swamy | Gurukiran | Kannada |
| 2006 | "Vaave Makane" | Pothan Vava | Alex Paul | Malayalam |
| "Meter Iddone" | Ambi | V. Nagendra Prasad | Kannada | |
| "Yarivanu" | Shubham | Gurikiran | Kannada | |
| 2007 | "Wicket Bacha" (with Earl) | Hattrick | Pritam | Hindi |
| "Teri Meri Merry Christmas" | Bow barracks Forever | Anjun Dutt | Hindi | |
| "Kshana Kshana" | Kshana Kshana | R. P. Patnaik | Kannada | |
| 2008 | "Yavva Yavva Naa Hege" | Nee Tata Naa Birla | Gurukiran | Kannada |
| 2009 | "Gudsu Gudsu" | Kannadada Kiran Bedi | Hamsalekha | Kannada |
| 2011 | "Hai Ye Maya" | Don 2 | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | Hindi |
| 2011 | "Viriyunnu" | Bombay March 12 | Afzal Yusuf | Malayalam |
| 2011 | "Darling", "Doosri Darling" (withRekha Bhardwaj) | 7 Khoon Maaf | Vishal Bhardwaj | Hindi |
| 2012 | "Ramba main Samba" | Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi | Jeet Ganguly | Hindi |
| "Aami Shotti Bolchi" | Kahaani | Vishal–Shekhar | Hindi | |
| "Yeh Raat Mona Lisa" | Kaafiron Ki Namaaz | Advait Nemlekar | Hindi | |
| "Jhoom Jhoom Zara" | Parie | Veer Samarth | Kannada | |
| 2014 | "Race gurram" | Race Gurram | S. Thaman | Telugu |
| 2016 | "Hoi Kiw/Chalo Chalo" | Rock On 2 | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | Hindi |
| 2016 | "Dirty Picture" | Thikka | S. Thaman | Telugu |
| 2019 | "Empuraane" | Lucifer | Deepak Dev | Malayalam |
| 2022 | "Phire Takao" | Kolkatar Harry | Jeet Ganguly | Bengali |
| "Chumbok Mon" | Kacher Manush | Nilayan Chatterjee | ||
| ''Drishyam 2 Title Track " | Drishyam 2 | Devi Sri Prasad | Hindi |
Filmography[edit]
| 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 | Hindi |
| 2016 | Rock On 2 | Herself (cameo) | Hindi |
| 2019 | If Not for You[citation needed] | Herself | English |
| 2022 | Achcham Madam Naanam Payirppu | Charukesi | Tamil |
Television[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2006 | Indian Idol | Guest | Hindi |
| 2007 | Star Singer | Judge | Malayalam |
| 2008 | Malayalam | ||
| 2011 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champion | Kannada | |
| 2012 | Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star– Season 2 | Hindi | |
| Gaurav Maharashtracha | Marathi | ||
| Kuyil patu | Tamil | ||
| 2016 | Phire Asar Gaan | Judge | Bengali |
| Onnum Onnum Moonu | Guest | Malayalam | |
| 2018 | Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala | Herself | Hindi |
Awards and nominations[edit]
Civilian awards[edit]
- Padma Shri- 2011[17]– Fourth Highest Civilian Award presented byGovernment of India
- Padma Bhushan- 2024 – Third Highest Civilian Award presented byGovernment of India
Film awards[edit]
 |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Song | Film | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | IIFA Awards | Best Female Playback Singer | "Darling" | 7 Khoon Maaf | 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]
- ^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.ISBN978-0-472-07434-1.
- ^"I'm thrilled beyond comprehension: Usha Uthup".The Times of India.26 January 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 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.Retrieved16 July2023.
- ^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.Retrieved16 July2023.
- ^"It's Great To Be Me: Usha Uthup".India Today.8 August 2012.Retrieved8 August2012.
- ^"Profile: My bad girl voice".Tehelka.Vol. 8, no. 8. 26 February 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 7 September 2011.Retrieved19 February2011.
- ^"Midnight's Children".Hindustan Times.14 August 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 15 August 2012.
- ^Kumar, Anuj (4 December 2003)."Tea, croissants and Usha Uthup".The Hindu.Archived from the original on 2 January 2004.
{{cite news}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^abDcosta, 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.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved27 July2019.
- ^Suganth, M. (2 February 2011)."Padma Shri is icing on cake for Usha Uthup".The Times of India.Archived fromthe originalon 17 September 2011.
- ^Frank, Naveen (18 February 2006)."'I am completely a people's person...' – Usha Uthup ".Daijiworld.Archived fromthe originalon 17 May 2009.Retrieved28 April2011.
- ^Nadadhur, Srivathsan (14 September 2015)."Usha Uthup wears dignity in her tone".The Hindu.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved27 July2019.
- ^"Nick's Keymon Ache to make its theatrical debut on 9 November".indiantelevision.com.6 November 2012.Retrieved4 January2017.
- ^"Usha Uthup, Girish Kasaravalli to get Padma Shri".TopNews.in.25 January 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 9 November 2021.Retrieved13 March2012.
- ^"Nominations - Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2011".Radio Mirchi.30 January 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 30 January 2013.Retrieved24 May2018.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Usha UthupatIMDb
- "Before Darrrling, Usha Uthup sang these hit songs!".Rediff.comMovies.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1947 births
- Living people
- Singers from Kolkata
- Bengali-language singers
- Bollywood playback singers
- English-language singers from India
- Gujarati-language singers
- Hindi-language singers
- Indian women playback singers
- Tamil playback singers
- Marathi-language singers
- Konkani-language singers
- Nepali-language singers from India
- Singers from Mumbai
- Russian-language singers
- Tamil-language singers
- Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts
- Kannada playback singers
- Indian women pop singers
- 21st-century Indian singers
- Indian Tamil people
- Indian jazz singers
- Indian women jazz singers
- 20th-century Indian singers
- 20th-century Indian women singers
- 21st-century Indian women singers
- Women musicians from Maharashtra
- Actresses in Hindi cinema
- Actresses in Malayalam cinema
- Actresses in Tamil cinema
- Actresses in Kannada cinema
- Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts