NAVIGATING AN EXCEPTIONAL ROUTE

In a world where conformity often overshadows individuality, there are those who dare to pave their own path. Bazaar India speaks to three women artists that have been an inspiration for many.

- Shubhangi Jindal, Priyanka Kathuria, Ria Singh

USHA UTHUP

Playback Singer

Lovingly known as didi, Usha Uthup opted the not-so-easy path to success and, over time, built a reputation of being a versatile artist who dons more hats than one—she’s a playback singer and actress. Usha believes that every genre of music and each aspect of film and theatre are interconnected. “My journey has been truly remarkable. The timing of my entry was serendipitous; in 1969 there were few singers like me who were performing in clubs. My entry was made smoother as I sang both Western music and Hindi songs [especially at nightclubs] until I received the opportunity to sing in Indian film industry.”

Radio played a pivotal role when Usha started her career about 54 years ago. “My inspiration in music,” she recalls, “was primarily drawn from the medium [radio] because electronic media was limited back then. American singer Harry Belafonte remains my forever icon as far as his connection with his audience is concerned. The likes of Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar, and contemporary singers such as Sunidhi Chauhan, Arijit Singh, and Shreya Ghoshal have also left an indelible mark on me.”