Usha Uthup
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| Usha Uthup | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Usha Iyer, Didi |
| Born |  India November 8, 1947 |
| Genre(s) | Pop, playback singing |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1966-present |
Usha Uthup is a popular Indian pop singer. She was well known for popular hits in the late 1960s,1970s and 1980s. Her maiden name is Usha Iyer.
Usha Uthup has sung in 14 Indian languages including Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Assamese, Oriya, Gujarati, Marathi, Konkani, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu. She can also sing in several foreign languages including Dutch, French, German, Italian, Sinhalese, Swahili, Russian, Nepalese, Arabic, Creole, Zulu and Spanish and English.[1]
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[edit] Early Life
Usha Uthup lives in Calcutta. She grew up in Park Circus, near Mayfair Road. Her father Sami Iyer was the police commissioner of Bombay. She has three sisters (Uma Pocha, Indira Srinivasan and Maya Sami), all of whom are singers. Originally married to Ramu Iyer (hence her early recordings were under the name Usha Iyer) she is now married to Jani Uthup.
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 and the Kingston Trio's Greenback Dollar, on an EP, Scotch and Soda which sold very well in the Indian market. She appeared in disguise on Indian Idol 1 and 2. She was one of the co-judges of a reality show in Malayalam called Idea Star Singer 2007. Now she is touring for past 1 month to USA with Malayalam Movie artist to celebrate 5 years of Asianet in US.
[edit] Film singing
Usha 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. Some of her famous songs for movies (and associated music directors) include:
| Song | Movie | Year | Composer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tashan Mein | Tashan | 2008 | Vishal-Shekhar |
| Kabhi Pa Liya Tho Kabhi Kho Diya | Jogger's Park | 2003 | Tabun |
| Din Hai Na Ye Raat | Bhoot | 2003 | Salim-Sulaiman |
| Vande Mataram | Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham | 2001 | Jatin-Lalit in conjunction/collaboration with Sandesh Shandilya |
| Raja Ki Kahani | Godmother | 1999 | Vishal Bhardwaj |
| Daud | Daud | 1998 | A. R. Rahman |
| Vegam Vegam Pogum Pogum | Anjali | 1991 | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Koi Yahan Aha Nache Nache | Disco Dancer | 1982 | Bappi Lahiri |
| Ramba Ho | Armaan | 1981 | Bappi Lahiri |
| Hari Om Hari | Pyaara Dushman | 1980 | Bappi Lahiri |
| Doston Se Pyar Kiya | Shaan | 1980 | R D Burman |
| Shaan Se... | Shaan | 1980 | R D Burman |
| Ek Do Cha Cha Cha | Shalimar | 1978 | R D Burman |
[edit] Recordings
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 recently recorded a song called "Rhythm and Blues" with the Indian Rock Band Parikrama which will appear on Channel V on April 23rd 2007.
[edit] Fashion style
Usha's trademark is her massive bindi and her gajra (garland) that she wears in her head, as well as her Kancheepuram saris.
[edit] Acting career
Usha Uthup is also an actress, often singing and acting in India's signature musical films. She acted in "Pothen Vava" a Malayalam movie in 2006 with Mammootty in the lead. She did the role of his mother.
[edit] Nominations
- Filmfare Nomination as Best Female Playback Singer for the song "One Two Cha ChaCha" from Shalimar (film) (1978)
- Filmfare Nomination as Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Hari Om Hari" from Pyare Dushman (1980)
- Filmfare Nomination as Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Rambha Ho" from Armaan (1981 film) (1981)[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Musically stronger than ever. The Tribune, Chandigarh. May 20, 2002.
- ^ 1st Filmfare Awards 1953
