Usha Uthup, an iconic figure in the Indian music industry, has made a significant impact as a pop, jazz, and playback singer. Renowned for her contributions to Indian pop culture, she holds the distinction of being a pioneer in introducing and popularizing this genre in Indian music.
Usha Uthup Height, Weight, Age, Biography, Husband & More
Usha Uthup, born in Mumbai in 1947, hails from a musically inclined background. Her father, originally from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, brought the essence of music into her life from an early age. Growing up in a musical environment, Usha developed a deep love and appreciation for music.
Family
She is a member of a Tamil Brahmin family. Her father, Vaidyanath Someshwar Sami, served as a Deputy Commissioner of the Bombay Police. She has three sisters: Uma Pocha, who is a doctor; Maya Sami, a singer; and Indira Srinivasan, a travel industry executive. Additionally, she has a brother named Shyam Iyer.
Her first marriage was to Ramu Iyer. Unfortunately, after Ramu’s sudden passing, she remarried Jani Chacko Uthup, a businessman, for the second time. She has a daughter named Anjali Uthup, who works as a radio jockey, and a son named Sunny Uthup, who is an event manager.
Jani Chacko Uthup Usha Uthup Husband
Anjali Uthup Usha Uthup’s Daughter
Sunny Uthup Usha Uthup Son
Childhood
Usha was born into a Tamil Iyer family in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1947. Her father was Vaidyanath Someshwar Sami Iyer who hailed from Madras (now Chennai), in Tamil Nadu.
Education
During her schooling years, she attended St. Agnes High School, located on Clare Road in Byculla. However, she faced a setback in her music class as she was expelled due to not conforming to the expected vocal standards. Despite this, her music teacher acknowledged her inherent musicality and assigned her tasks such as playing clappers or triangles in the class.
Personal Life
Usha entered into a marriage with Jani Chacko Uthup, who hails from the ManarcadPainumkal family of Kottayam. Before her marriage with Jani, Usha was previously married to the late Ramu Iyer. Together, Usha and Jani have a daughter named Anjali and a son named Sunny, who was named after the popular song, “Sunny.”
Career
Usha’s first experience in public singing occurred when she was just 9 years old. Encouraged by her sisters who were already pursuing musical careers, Usha was taken to Ameen Sayani, a renowned radio announcer at that time. Sayani provided her with a chance to showcase her talent, and she seized the opportunity by singing a song.
Singing Career
Usha Uthup embarked on her music career in 1969 in Chennai. She started by singing at a small nightclub called Nine Gems, situated in the basement of the Safire Theatre complex on Mount Road. Remarkably, she performed wearing a saree and leg calipers, which didn’t deter her from delivering a captivating performance. Her talent and stage presence were so impressive that the nightclub owner extended her stay for an entire week.
Acting Career
In 2007, Usha appeared in the film “Bow Barracks Forever,” directed by Anjan Dutt, playing herself in the movie. Additionally, in the same year, she featured in a music video titled “Hattrick” as herself. Usha Uthup also made disguised appearances on the reality shows Indian Idol 1 and 2. She served as one of the co-judges for Idea Star Singer Season V in 2007 and 2008 and later appeared as a judge on the same show in 2010.
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Discography
| Song | Film | Composer | Year |
| “Jogan Pritam Ki” | Devi | Laxmikant Pyarelal | 1970 |
| “Love is beautiful” | Melnaattu Marumagal | Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan | 1975 |
| “It’s Easy To Fool You” | Oorukku Uzhaippavan | M. S. Viswanathan | 1976 |
| “Peethambara” | Siva Thandavum | M B Sreenivasan | 1977 |
| “How Can I Tell You” | Sangharsha | Vijaya Bhaskar | 1977 |
| “We Have Got” | 1977 | ||
| “One Two Cha Cha Cha” | Shalimar | R D Burman | 1978 |
| “Where there is” | Randu Penkuttikal | M S Vishwanathan | 1978 |
| “Hari Om Hari” | Pyaara Dushman | Bappi Lahiri | 1980 |
| “Doston Se Pyar Kiya” | Shaan | R D Burman | 1980 |
| “Shaan Se…” | Shaan | R D Burman | 1980 |
| “Ramba” | Armaan | Bappi Lahiri | 1981 |
| “Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai” | Wardat | Bappi Lahiri | 1981 |
| “Koi Yahan Aha Nache Nache” | Disco Dancer | Bappi Lahiri | 1982 |
| “Keechurallu” | Keechurallu | Ilaiyaraaja | 1991 |
| “Chalo Chalk” | Janam | S P Venkatesh | 1993 |
| “Njanee Rathriye” | Daivathinte Vikrithikal | L Vaidyanathan | 1994 |
| “Nanthyar Vilakkum” | Daivathinte Vikrithikal | Mohan Sithara | 1994 |
| “Mafia” | Mafia | Anand–Milind | 1994 |
| “Jinka Ninja” | Kalamasseriyil Kalyaanayogam | Tomin Thankachari | 1995 |
| “Ladies college campuses” | Mazhayethum Munpe | R Anand | 1996 |
| “Daud” | Daud | A. R. Rahman | 1997 |
| “Raja Ki Kahani” | Godmother | Vishal Bhardwaj | 1999 |
| “Melam Lotto” | Rapid Action Force | Sailesh | 2000 |
| “Manasilore” | Rapid Action Force | Sailesh | 2000 |
| “Vande Mataram” | Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham | Jatin–Lalit, Sandesh Shandilya, Aadesh Shrivastava | 2001 |
| “Kabhi Pa Liya Tho Kabhi Kho Diya” | Jogger’s Park | Tabun | 2003 |
| “Din Hai Na Ye Raat” | Bhoot | Salim–Sulaiman | 2003 |
| “Ramble Ninge” | Swamy | Gurukiran | 2005 |
| “Yeh Raat Mona Lisa” | Kaafiron Ki Namaaz | Advait Nemlekar | 2012 |
| “Jhoom Jhoom Zara” | Parie | Veer Samarth | 2012 |
| “Race gurram” | Race Gurram | S. Thaman | 2014 |
| “Hoi Kiw/Chalo Chalo” | Rock On 2 | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | 2016 |
| “Dirty Picture” | Thikka | S. Thaman | 2016 |
| “Empuraane” | Lucifer | Deepak Dev | 2019 |
| “Phire Takao” | Kolkatar Harry | Jeet Ganguly | 2022 |
Filmography
| Title | Roles | Year |
| Bombay to Goa | 1973 | |
| Melnaattu Marumagal | 1975 | |
| Pothan Vava | Kurisuveettil Mariamma | 2006 |
| Bow Barracks Forever | Herself | 2007 |
| Hattrick | 2007 | |
| Manmadan Ambu | Indira | 2010 |
| 7 Khoon Maaf | Maggie Aunty | 2011 |
| Parie | 2012 | |
| Ideal Couple | Sophy | 2012 |
| Keymon & Nani in Space Adventure[16] | Nani (voice role) | 2012 |
| X: Past Is Present | Mrs. Baker | 2015 |
| Rock On 2 | Herself (cameo) | 2016 |
| If Not for You | Herself | 2019 |
| Achcham Madam Naanam Payirppu | Charukesi | 2022 |
Television
| Title | Roles | Year |
| Indian Idol | Guest | 2004-2005 |
| 2005-2006 | ||
| Star Singer | Judge | 2007 |
| 2008 | ||
| Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champion | 2011 | |
| Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star – Season 2 | 2012 | |
| Gaurav Maharashtracha | 2012 | |
| Kuyil patu | 2012 | |
| Phir asar gaan | Judge | 2016 |
| Onnum Onnum Moonu | Guest | 2016 |
| Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala | Herself | 2018 |
Awards and Nominations
Film Awards
| Award | Category | Nominated Song | Film | Result | Year |
| IIFA Awards | Best Female Playback Singer | “Darling” | 7 Khoon Maaf | Nominated | 2012 |
| Screen Awards | Best Female Playback Singer | Nominated | 2012 | ||
| Mirchi Music Awards | Female Vocalist of The Year | Nominated | 2012 | ||
| Lifetime Achievement Award | N/A | N/A | Won | 2017 | |
| Asianet Film Awards | Best Character actress | N/A | Pothan Vava | Nominated | 2006 |
| Kalakar Awards | Best Audio Album (Bangla) | “Darling” | N/A | Won | 1999 |
| Chai Silpir Samman | N/A | Won | 2002 | ||
| Best Playback Singer for the film | “Kabhi Pa Liya To Kabhi Kho Diya” | Joggers Park | Won | 2004 | |
| “Ramba Mein Samba” | Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi | Won | 2013 |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Usha Uthup
- When Usha was in school, she was thrown out of the music class due to her voice.
- She was honoured with Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India, in 2024.
- She started her singing career in 1969 at a Chennai nightclub called Nine Gems.
- She received the Padma Shri Award in 2011.
- She has sung in so many languages like Hindi, Punjabi, Bangla, Assamese, Oriya, Khasi, Gujurati, Marathi, Konkani, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu she also sings in French, German, Italian, Sinhalese, Swahili, Russian, Nepalese, Arabic, Creole, and of course, English.
- She became a popular voice with her song Shaan Se from the 1980s film Shaan.
- Does Usha Uthup smoke?: No
- Does Usha Uthup drink alcohol?: No
Also check: Alka Yagnik Biography
| Body Measurements | Not Yet Update |
| Birth Place | Mumbai Maharastra India |
| Children | Daughter: Anjali Son: Sunny |
| Eye Color | |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Height In CM | 163 CM |
| Height In Meter | 1.63 M |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Parents | Father: Vaidyanath Someshwar Sami Mother: Name Not Known |
| Profession | Singer |
| Siblings | Sister: lndira and Uma |
| Spous | Ramu Iyer (Died) Jani Chacko Uthup |
| Weight | 82 Kg 181 Lbs |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
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