Biography
Who is Usha Uthup?
Early life and education
Born on November 7, 1947, Usha Uthup grew up in Mumbai, India. Her father was Vaidyanath Someshwar Sami Iyer. She attended St. Agnes High School in Byculla. During her school years, teachers removed her from music class because they felt her voice did not fit the choir.
Despite this, she was surrounded by music at home. Her parents frequently listened to Western classical, Hindustani, and Carnatic music on the radio. They enjoyed artists like Kishori Amonkar and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Usha also listened to Radio Ceylon. A neighbor, S.M.A. Pathan, and his daughter Jamila encouraged her to study Hindi and Indian classical music.
How Usha became famous
Usha Uthup began her singing career in 1969 in Chennai. She performed at a nightclub called Nine Gems located in the basement of the Safire Theatre complex. Wearing a saree and leg calipers, she captivated the audience, leading the owner to extend her engagement. Soon after, she started singing in Calcutta at venues such as Trincas.
Her career expanded as she performed in Delhi at various Oberoi hotels. A film crew from the Navketan unit heard her perform and offered her a chance at playback singing. This led to her Bollywood debut with the 1970 film Bombay Talkie.
Career highlights and awards
She gained significant popularity in Nairobi after performing at an Indian festival. President Jomo Kenyatta eventually named her an Honorary Citizen of Kenya. She performed the song Malaika with Fadhili Williams during her time in Africa. Back in India, she worked closely with music directors R. D. Burman and Bappi Lahiri.
In 2011, the Government of India honored her with the Padma Shri award. In 2024, she received the Padma Bhushan. She also recorded many albums, including covers of songs like Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough.
Acting and television career
Usha Uthup expanded into acting with roles in several films. She appeared in the 2006 Malayalam movie Pothan Vava. She also acted as a maid in the 2011 Vishal Bhardwaj film 7 Khoon Maaf, where she sang the song Darling. Her filmography includes appearances in Bombay To Goa, Bow Barracks Forever, and Manmadan Ambu.
On television, she served as a judge for shows like Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star and Airtel Super Singer. She also appeared as a guest on The Kapil Sharma Show in May 2019.
Personal life and family
Usha Uthup married Jani Chacko Uthup, who was from the Manarcaud Painumkal family in Kottayam. They had two children, a daughter named Anjali and a son named Sunny. Her son received his name from the song Sunny. Her husband died due to a cardiac arrest on July 8, 2024. Usha remains a dedicated stage performer and frequently gives concerts around the world.
Birthday and age
Usha Uthup was born on November 7, 1947, which makes Usha 79 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Usha shares the date with 60 other famous people.
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