Usha Uthup (born 7 November 1947) is an Indian pop, jazz and playback singer known for her deep, husky voice and her trademark look of Kanjeevaram silk saris, a large bindi and flowers in her hair. She began in the nightclubs of Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi in the late 1960s and went on to sing in more than fifteen Indian languages and several foreign ones. Her film hits include “Hari Om Hari”, “Ramba Ho” and “Darling”. She received the Padma Bhushan in 2024.
Quick Facts
| Birth name | Usha Sami |
| Born | 7 November 1947, Bombay (now Mumbai), India |
| Age | 78 |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Genres | Pop, jazz, film music |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Home | Kolkata |
| Spouse | Jani Chacko Uthup (d. 2024) |
| Children | 2 (Anjali and Sunny) |
| Honours | Padma Shri (2011), Padma Bhushan (2024) |
Early Life
Usha was born into a Tamil family in Mumbai; her father, Vaidyanath Someshwar Sami, was a police officer. She grew up in the police quarters at Byculla with her sisters, who also sang, and listened to a wide range of music on the radio, from Western classical and jazz to Hindustani and film songs. At school she was dropped from music class because her voice was thought too low for a girl, but a teacher gave her clappers and a triangle to play. She had no formal training.
Career
Her career began by chance at a small nightclub called Nine Gems in Chennai, where the owner asked her to sing for a week. She then sang at Trincas in Kolkata and at the Oberoi in Delhi, always in a sari, which was unheard of for a nightclub singer. At Trincas she met her future husband, Jani Uthup.
In Delhi she was heard by a film unit that included Shashi Kapoor, which led to her singing in Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971) for the composer R. D. Burman. Through the 1970s and 1980s Burman and Bappi Lahiri gave her a series of disco-era hits: “Hari Om Hari” (Pyaara Dushman), “Ramba Ho” (Armaan), “Koi Yahan Nache Nache” (Disco Dancer) and the title song of Shaan. She returned to the charts with “Darling” in 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), sung with Rekha Bhardwaj, which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
Uthup is above all a live performer and still gives concerts around the world, singing in languages from Bengali and Malayalam to Swahili and Russian. She has acted in a few films, including the Malayalam film Pothan Vava (2006) and 7 Khoon Maaf, and has been a judge on television music shows.
Personal Life
Usha married Jani Chacko Uthup, from Kerala, and settled in Kolkata, which she calls home. They have a daughter, Anjali, and a son, Sunny. Jani Uthup died in July 2024.
Awards and Honours
Popular Songs
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Usha Uthup born?
Usha Uthup was born on 7 November 1947 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India and is 78 years old.
What is Usha Uthup’s occupation?
Occupation: Singer.
What honours has Usha Uthup received?
Padma Shri (2011), Padma Bhushan (2024).
Featured image: Usha Uthup receives the Padma Bhushan from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, 22 April 2024. Photo by President’s Secretariat, licensed under Government Open Data License – India, via Wikimedia Commons.
