Usha Uthup Iyer is considered as one of the greatest playback singers in the history of the Indian music industry. There was a time when Usha’s voice was termed as ‘unsuitable’ for the music industry, but it was her consistency that paved the way for his eventual success. Unlike other renowned singers of her era, Usha came onto the scene after people noticed her voice during her live shows at restaurants and bars. At 23, Usha Uthup made her singing debut in Bollywood with the songs, Good Times and Bad Times and Hari Om Tatsat in the film, Bombay Talkie (1971).
Usha Uthup has been a part of the Indian music industry for more than five decades, which clearly speaks volumes about her stature as a singer. A glimpse of Usha Uthup’s brilliance everyone witnessed earlier this year in February 2024, when she was spotted singing iconic American singer, Miley Cyrus’ popular song, Flowers. The video broke the internet, leaving everyone in awe of her singing skills. Weeks after her rendition of Miley Cyrus’ Flowers went viral on the internet, Usha Uthup was bestowed with Padma Bhushan on April 23, 2024.
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Usha Uthup’s family background, first stage performance at nine, and was discovered by Dev Anand
Usha Uthup was born on November 8, 1947, almost three weeks after India gained Independence on August 15, 1947. She was born into a Tamilian Brahmin Iyer family. According to multiple reports, while Usha’s father was in the police, not much is known about her mother. Despite not being born into a musical family, Usha Uthup’s illustrious career is indeed an inspiration for so many aspiring singers out there. At the age of nine, Usha performed for the first time at the nightclub, Nine Gems in Chennai.
Usha Uthup impressed the owners with her voice and soon received an offer from another big nightclub, Trincas, in Calcutta. After showcasing her talent at Trincas, she got the opportunity to perform at the Oberoi Hotels. It was during her performance at the Oberoi Hotels, when iconic Bollywood actor, Dev Anand discovered her. According to multiple reports, Dev Anand gave Usha the chance to be a part of three songs, Hare Rama Hare Krishna (Female Version), Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Pt. 1 (Dance Version), and Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Pt. 2 (Dance Version), in the film, Hare Rama Hare Krishna.
Usha Uthup’s love story: She was married to her first husband when she fell in love with her fan
Moving on to Usha Uthup’s personal life, she got married twice and has a completely filmy love life. For the uninitiated, Usha was married to her first husband, Ramu, aka Ramoji, when she used to sing at restaurants and bars. Ramoji used to accompany his wife to her shows and was quite supportive of her singing career. However, reports were rife that Usha and Ramoji were dealing with some irreconcilable issues in their married life and that their marriage was on the verge of falling into pieces.
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For the uninitiated, when Usha Uthup was performing at Kolkata’s famous nightclub, Trincas, in 1969, she met Jani Chacko Uthup for the first time. While she was performing at the club, he was sitting in the first row and instantly became a fan of his singing skills. Usha was married to Ramoji at that time, but she continued talking to her admirer, Jani Chacko, who was a constant name in the audience during her shows at the Trincas nightclub. However, one day, Usha saw Jani Chacko talking to her husband, Ramoji, while she was performing on the stage. After the show ended, Usha couldn’t find her husband, and it was when Jani Chacko approached her and offered to drop her home.
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Usha Uthup’s lover, Jani Chacko Uthup told her first husband, Ramoji, ‘I am in love with your wife.’
During the ride, Janu Chacko Uthup and Usha Uthup reportedly didn’t talk to each other, but what happened next changed the course of the singer’s life completely. After reaching home, Usha rang the bell, and her husband, Ramoji came out and told Jani Chacko, “That’s enough Mr Uthup! You can go.” After Jani Chacko’s departure, Ramoji slammed the door and revealed what Jani Uthup had said to him during their conversation at the bar. Ramoji revealed that Jani Uthup told him, “I don’t know about Usha and her feelings, but I am in love with your wife.”
In response to her husband, Ramoji’s painful revelation, Usha Uthup said, “Okay, he said that to you. So, what happened? He didn’t say anything to me.” In response to her wife’s calm reply, Ramoji asked her the most important question, he questioned Usha, “But what Jani said…is it true? Do you have the same feelings for him?” After taking a pause and putting aside all the fear, Usha gave a one-word answer, ‘Yes!’ to Ramoji’s question.
Usha Uthup parted ways with her husband, Ramoji, to marry her lover, Jani Chacko Uthup
After hearing his wife’s ‘Yes!’, Ramoji couldn’t deal with it, as he started throwing things and stopped accompanying Usha Uthup to her shows. After living with each other for some time, Usha finally took the decision to officially part ways with her first husband to marry the love of her life, Jani Chacko Uthup. It was a bold decision at that time, but Usha took it for her, Ramoji, and Jani Chacko’s better future. After parting ways with Ramoji, Usha got married to Jani Chacko, and they welcomed two kids, Anjali Uthup and Sunny Uthup.
Usha Uthup’s second-husband, Jani Chacko Uthup passed away due to cardiac arrest
On July 8, 2024, Usha Uthup’s husband, Jani Chacko passed away at the age of 78 due to a cardiac arrest. It was Usha’s daughter, Anjali Uthup, who confirmed the unfortunate news after she posted a picture of her father, Jani Chacko, and penned an emotional note in the caption. Her note in the memory of her appa can be read as:
“Appa…gone too soon…but as stylishly as you lived…most handsome man in the world…we love you a true gentleman and Lawrencian to the core and the finest Tea Taster.”
What are your thoughts on Usha Uthup’s tangled love life? Let us know.
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