Padma Shri Usha Uthup Ji is a popular Indian Pop, Jazz and playback singer. For over 44 years now she has spread a message of love, unity, harmony, tolerance and integrity through her music. Usha Uthup, or "Didi" as she is fondly known as, was born in 1947 into a traditional South Indian family. Even though Usha Uthup was not formally trained in music, she grew up in an atmosphere of music as her elder sisters are known singers. She is married to Jani Uthup and lives in Kolkata, Bengal.
Usha Uthup is known for her lively stage performance, and with her charm and powerful vocal chords, has enthralled her fans of all ages throughout the world. She began her career in 1969 at a Chennai Nightclub called ‘Nine Gems’ and went on to record more than a hundred albums in seventeen Indian languages, sung in several thousand concerts, performed in all major countries and has been on television since its inception in India, pioneering at the behest of Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the “Pop Time” on Doordarshan.
Her Bollywood career started when a film crew belonging to Navketan unit including actor Shashi Kapoor visited the Nightclub she was performing in Delhi and offered her a chance to sing as a playback artist with the song "Hare Rama Hare Krishna". She sang several songs in the 1970’s and 1980’s for music directors R D Burman and Bappi Lahiri and in 2011 winning Filmfare Award for the song “Darling” from film ‘Saat Khoon Maaf’. Usha Uthup is also an actress, often singing and acting in India’s signature musical films. In addition she has also been a judge on various Indian singing reality shows.
Usha Uthup has also sung for many charitable causes including, the Red Cross, Spastic Society of India, Mother Teresa related Charities, Cancer Institute, Schools for Blind, Old Aged Homes, Government charity drives and various drought and flood relief initiatives. She has also worked extensively for organisations like the Rotary, Lions, Jaycees, Giants and SPCA, both nationally and internationally.
Padma Shri Usha Uthup is coming to Sydney for a live performance on 25 April 2015 at Whitlam Leisure Centre in Liverpool. This Concert is brought to you by a consortium of dynamic Promoters from Sydney namely Sur Events, SWRG Events, Chopra Productions and Vinart Investments.
