Usha Uthup
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A brief biography
Usha Uthup is known as India's first female pop singer. She might have acted in many multi-lingual films and sung thousands of songs in her career spanning 53 years, but it's her heavy, husky, sharp and unconventional voice that stands for her identity. She is known for heart-thumping and popular songs like 'Koi Yahan Nache Nache', 'Shaan Se', 'Hari Om Hari', 'Darling' to name a few
Usha Uthup, a renowned Indian singer, was born and raised in Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay). She attended the Convent of Jesus and Mary School in Byculla, Clare Road, and spent her childhood in a large, simple, middle-class family of six children. Her father was a police officer stationed at the Byculla police station, and they lived in a spacious British-style pavilion. Despite their modest means, Usha and her siblings enjoyed a happy childhood and learned to appreciate the value of things.
Usha was a tomboy as a child, climbing guava trees and making manjas for kites by grinding broken bulbs and mixing them with refined wheat flour, water, and artificial colors from her mother's kitchen. She obeyed her parents' wishes and was an excellent student, particularly in language subjects. Her academic performance in mathematics and science, however, was not as good. Despite this, she secured an impressive 82% score in school.
Usha's childhood was full of listening to the radio, which was her only form of entertainment. Her best friend was Roshani Irani, who owned Golden Wafers in Bombay. Usha's siblings never allowed her to bat when they played cricket, and she always had to be a runner. Her elder sisters Uma Pocha and Maya played with her, and the family enjoyed simple but satisfying South Indian meals such as rasam, sambar, dahi bhaat, dal, and occasionally chapati.
Usha had a fondness for Marathi, the third language taught at school, and enjoyed singing Marathi songs. She had a wonderful Marathi teacher named Mrs. Raikar, who remained in touch with her even after school. Usha's language skills and her love for singing would later prove to be significant factors in her career.
After completing her education, Usha started working as a receptionist at a nightclub called Talk of the Town in Kolkata. Her brother helped her get the job, and she stayed in a hostel with other working girls. She started singing at the nightclub occasionally, and her unique voice caught the attention of music directors. One of them offered her a chance to sing in a Bengali film, and Usha took the opportunity.
Usha's first song was "Jugnuon Se Bhar Le Aanchal" for the film "Saat Pake Bandha." It became a hit, and Usha was on her way to becoming a successful playback singer. She continued to sing in Bengali films for a few years before moving back to Mumbai in the early 1970s.
In Mumbai, Usha faced initial struggles in finding work as a playback singer due to her unconventional voice. However, she soon landed her first break in the film "Bombay Talkie," singing "Hari Om Tat Sat" for composer Shankar-Jaikishan. Her distinctive voice and style of singing, which blended Indian classical music with Western pop and jazz influences, gained popularity among music directors and listeners alike.
Usha became known for her unique style of singing, which blended various genres and languages. She sang in several Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, and Kannada. Some of her popular songs include "Dum Maaro Dum" from the film "Hare Rama Hare Krishna," "One Two Cha Cha Cha" from "Shalimar," and "Ramba Ho Ho Ho" from "Armaan." Usha also performed at live shows and concerts, both in India and abroad, and gained a reputation as an energetic and entertaining performer.
Apart from her singing career, Usha also appeared in films and television shows as an actress and hosted several music-based television shows. She was awarded the Padma Shri
