Usha Uthup
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Usha Uthup is a popular Indian pop singer. She was well known for popular hits in the 1970s and 1980s. Her maiden name is Usha Iyer.
Usha Uthup is supposedly the first person to have brought pop culture to India. She can sing in many languages, including but not limited to English, Hindi, Bengali, and many South Indian languages.
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[edit] Bio
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. She appeared in disguise on indian Idol 1 and 2.
[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 | Composer |
|---|---|---|
| Kabhi Pa Liya Tho Kabhi Kho Diya | Jogger's Park (2003) | Tabun |
| Din Hai Na Ye Raat | Bhoot (2003) | Salim-Suleiman |
| Vande Mataram | Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham (2001) | Jatin-Lalit |
| Raja Ki Kahani | Godmother (1999) | Vishal Bharadwaj |
| 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 | Arman (1981) | Bappi Lahiri |
| Hari Om Hari | Pyaara Dushman (1980) | Bappi Lahiri |
| Doston Se Pyar Kiya (Shaan Se...) | Shaan (1980) | R D Burman |
| Ek Do Cha Cha Cha | Shalimar (1978) | R D Burman |
| Dum Maro Dum | Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971) | 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).
[edit] Fashion style
Usha's trademark is her massive bindi and her kajra (garland) that she wears in her head, as well as her Kancheepuram saris.
[edit] Acting career
Apart from being a good singer, Usha Uthup is a good actress too. Her latest Malayalam film Pothan Vava was a hit.
[edit] External links
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