Overview
Usha Uthup is an Indian singer known for her distinctive deep, husky voice and her performances across multiple Indian and foreign languages. Beginning her career in the late 1960s in nightclubs, she went on to become one of India's most recognisable popular and playback singers, performing pop, jazz, filmi, and devotional music. She is also widely identified by her trademark Kanjeevaram saris, jasmine flowers in her hair, and large bindi.
Key facts
| Born | 8 November 1947, Bombay (now Mumbai), India |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Usha Iyer |
| Other names | Usha Uthup, Usha Iyer-Uthup |
| Occupation | Singer, performer |
| Genres | Pop, jazz, filmi, ghazal, devotional, world music |
| Languages performed in | Multiple Indian languages and several foreign languages |
| Spouse | Jani Chacko Uthup |
| Sister | Uma Pocha (singer) |
| Honours | Padma Shri (2011), Padma Bhushan (2024) |
| Based in | Kolkata, West Bengal |
Background
Usha Uthup was born into a Tamil Iyer family in Bombay. She grew up in a musically inclined household and was educated at a convent school in the city. Despite not having formal classical training, she developed an early interest in Western popular music and began singing as a teenager.
Career
Early years
Uthup began her professional career in the mid-to-late 1960s, performing in nightclubs in Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Her early venues included Trincas in Kolkata, which became closely associated with her career. Performing in a sari at a time when nightclub singers typically wore Western dress, she stood out both visually and vocally.
Pop and stage performances
Through the 1970s, Uthup released albums of cover versions and original popular songs, often blending English-language pop standards with Hindi and other Indian-language numbers. She became one of the first widely successful female pop singers in India and toured extensively in India and abroad.
Playback singing
Uthup entered Hindi film playback singing with songs that suited her low-register voice. Notable film songs include "Hari Om Hari" from Pyaara Dushman (1980), "Ramba Ho" from Armaan (1981), "One Two Cha Cha Cha" from Shaan (1980), and "Doston Se Pyaar Kiya" from Shaan. She has also recorded songs for Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, and other regional film industries.
In later decades she contributed to films including 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), where her rendition of "Darling" (composed by Vishal Bhardwaj) was widely acclaimed and won her several awards.
Live and international work
Uthup has performed in venues across Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa, and has sung in languages including English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Odia, Assamese, Konkani, Sinhala, Nepali, Arabic, Swahili, French, Spanish, Russian, Dutch, German, Italian, and others.
Timeline
- 1947: Born in Bombay.
- Late 1960s: Begins performing in nightclubs, including Trincas in Kolkata.
- 1970s: Releases pop albums and gains national popularity.
- 1980: Sings "Hari Om Hari" (Pyaara Dushman) and songs in Shaan.
- 1981: Sings "Ramba Ho" in Armaan.
- 2011: Awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India; sings "Darling" in 7 Khoon Maaf.
- 2024: Awarded the Padma Bhushan.
Personal life
Usha Iyer married Jani Chacko Uthup, after which she came to be known as Usha Uthup. The couple settled in Kolkata, which has remained her home base. Her elder sister, Uma Pocha, is also a singer. Uthup has spoken in interviews about her Christian and Hindu family ties and her syncretic outlook, and is known for performing devotional music across traditions.
Honours and recognition
- Padma Shri (2011), Government of India.
- Padma Bhushan (2024), Government of India.
- Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Darling" (7 Khoon Maaf).
- Numerous lifetime achievement and state-level awards from cultural bodies in India.
Significance
Usha Uthup is regarded as a pioneering figure in Indian popular music. She helped bring Western pop and jazz idioms to mainstream Indian audiences while retaining a distinctly Indian stage persona. Her multilingual repertoire, longevity in the nightclub circuit, and crossover into film playback have made her an enduring presence in Indian entertainment for over five decades. She is also noted for charity work and for performing for armed forces and social causes.