Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1947-11-07
- Born Place: Mumbai, India
Also Known As:
Usha Vaidyanath Someshwar Sami
Usha Uthup
Usha Uthup, born Usha Iyer on 1947, in Mumbai, is a renowned Indian singer known for her distinctive deep contralto voice and versatile musical style. Despite being told her voice was not suitable for music class as a child, she grew up in a household rich with diverse musical influences, from Western classical to Hindustani and Carnatic music. Her career began unconventionally in 1969, singing in nightclubs like Nine Gems in Chennai and Trincas in Kolkata, where her powerful stage presence and ability to blend Indian and Western musical genres quickly gained her a loyal following. She has sung in numerous Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, and several foreign languages such as English, French, and Swahili. Uthup carved a niche for herself with her unique fusion approach to Indian pop in the 1970s and 80s, delivering memorable hits like "Hari Om Hari," "Ramba Ho," and "Darling." She has collaborated with celebrated music directors such as R.D. Burman and A.R. Rahman, and her energetic performances, often in her signature Kanjivaram sarees, have charmed audiences for over five decades. Uthup has received numerous accolades, including the Padma Bhushan. She was first married to Ramu, and later to Jani Chacko Uthup, with whom she had two children, Anjali and Sunny. Jani Chacko Uthup passed away in July 2024.
