With her signature Kanjivaram saris, chunky jewellery and a voice as bold as her personality, Usha Uthup is a legend in her own right. The Queen of Indian Pop has captured audiences across all generations with her effortless blend of jazz, pop and Indian melodies for decades, whether it’s Hari Om Hari or Darling. Recently, she went viral with her dazzling covers of Adele’s Skyfall and Miley Cyrus’ Flowers when she performed at the iconic Trincas in Kolkata. Honestly, who else could pull it off with such unmatched pizzazz?
Now, the legendary singer is gearing up to bring her magic to NH7 Weekender at Teerth Fields, Pune, on 14th-15th December. Ahead of her performance, we chat with the artist on her journey, her love for saris and what she thinks about musicians of today’s generation.
ELLE: You’re all set to perform at NH7 Weekender. What are you looking forward to the most?
Usha Uthup: I am looking forward to the togetherness, to the surprise of the people who have never seen me before, to coming and singing Skyfall in a sari. I’m looking forward to passion, love, music, and peace.
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ELLE: How do you curate your setlist for a festival like NH7 Weekender, balancing your diverse musical styles and crowd expectations?
Usha Uthup: I already know what my audiences would want, having sung for 55 years. Somresh makes a list of 30 songs along with the musicians and then we play around with that knowing as soon as I get on stage–I know within the first two songs or the first two bars of music what kind of audience I have. So I just stick to the list that has been made or play around who comes in numbers, like in a batting order like Skyfall in a sari because that’s really big now. Slowly, I’ll get into that and maybe we do a set of three to four English songs, then I know it’s time to do the Hindi set and I can see from the audience and I play along with the audience.
If for some reason, there’s somebody who knows me or has heard me from South of India before, then they would request for a Tamil and Telugu song and so I would probably do that. But what I do in another language always has a beat, that the whole world will love. For example, if I were to do a Punjabi song, then I know for a fact when I sing ‘Kali tere guth te paranda tera laal ni aaho,’ I know that they are going to enjoy it. So it doesn’t matter what language you sing, so I wouldn’t take a serious Punjabi song, which I know won’t go with the audience. And if they wanted me to sing, if someone shouted for a Tamil song, I know I would love to sing (sings a serious Tamil song), I could do that but I know that’s not going to work because they have asked me for a similar kind of line (sings a fun Tamil song) so I play along with the feelings of the people and know that this is what they want. I want to give them what they want, that’s all I am here for. Without my audiences, musicians, and technicians I am zero.
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ELLE: What challenges did you face as a woman breaking into a male-dominated industry, and how did you overcome them?
Usha Uthup: I didn’t do it with any intention. It just happened. I just wanted to sing so I sang. I got the opportunity in a small little place called Nine Gems in Madras and then the owner came up to me and asked me whether I would sing for the week, and at the end of it he would give me a Kanjivaram sari which at that time would cost ₹126 and then sang in Hotel Savera in Madras which is still there.
ELLE: Looking back on your journey, what has been the turning point in your career and something that you are most proud of?
Usha Uthup: I think that’s yet to come, but there are so many defining moments like when I had a chance to sing with one of the fantastic Gospel singers of all time, Mahalia Jackson. I sang with her at the Afghan Church, Bombay in 1968-69. Then, another defining moment was when I met Nelson Mandela in South Africa. He had asked, “Is there anything you want me to do for you in South Africa?” I responded, “I would love to see Mirriam Makeba (Mama Africa).” And he said, “Done.” The next day she was in the audience and then came on stage and sang Pata Pata with me. That was a proud moment for me. Working with Mother Teresa, going to the Vatican and singing for her beatification has been a defining moment but every show has been a defining moment, as I always say, I never win or lose, I always learn.
ELLE: Your sense of style is so distinctive. You are known for wearing traditional saris. How did you develop your personal style, and what does it represent for you?
Usha Uthup: Fashion, in my opinion, is about consistency and comfort. Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. To demonstrate that I wear diverse outfits, I have never tried to be or do anything else. Every woman I knew, including my mother, grandmother, and sisters, wore a sari, and it was just normal for them to do so. I hail from a fairly middle-class, traditional South Indian household. People often assume that this was a style statement or a description of how I developed this tactic, but it wasn’t always that way. We lacked the resources to purchase pricey items. As soon as I began making money, I began purchasing my own saris; in fact, 75% of them are presents from others on important occasions. Tall borders are my favourite, and I enjoy picking my own colours from stores like Sundari and Nalli in Kolkata. I pick the border on its own, and they mix and match it for me and weave it from Kanjivaram silk. My bindi, bangles, and flowers will always be the same since I am very particular about how I look on stage.
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ELLE: You’ve sung in multiple languages and genres—from jazz to Indian pop and playback. How do you approach adapting your voice to fit different styles?
Usha Uthup: This is because I was never trained. Everything has a flip side to it. People have many regrets about not having a chance to learn music, and no formal training, but if I did have formal training, my every song would be coloured with that. Talking about genres, this is one of the good things that happened to me because I wasn’t trained in just one aspect or way of singing. For example, if I were to learn Indian classical music, I wouldn’t be able to do Bangla/English or any other. It is a god’s gift for me.
ELLE: You have connected with fans across generations, the Gen-Z in particular courtesy of your recent performance of Flowers by Miley Cyrus. How did you feel when that video went viral?
Usha Uthup: I feel wonderful. It’s been worth it. I always say that music has no barriers. What is Miley Cyrus’s age, where am I and what am I singing and what is the youth thinking, youth who will be coming to NH7, all responsible citizens of India and how they would be reacting to someone who is singing Ramba Ho and shifting to Flowers at the next moment!
ELLE: Speaking of Gen-Z, what are your thoughts on the kind of music they are making today? Do you have any favourite artists from this generation?
Usha Uthup: The generation is truly extraordinary, and it’s remarkable how passionately they perform and how beautifully it comes out. I hope and trust this quality remains anchored. My partner in particular has helped me stay grounded. He never meddled with my job, and always let me develop and pursue my passions. Because I’ve worked so hard, it means a lot to me when people tell me I’m doing great because I love and live for the craze. I refuse to believe any artist who doesn’t want to be appreciated. Some of the new voices are incredible, and the next generation is simply amazing. I’m so happy they’re out now, but I wonder where they’ve been hidden all these years.
ELLE: Tell us about your relationship with the iconic Trincas in Kolkata.
Usha Uthup: It is still my hallowed crown. I still treat it as my mandir, masjid and girja, and all sins. Without Trincas I would have never met my husband, or wouldn’t have had children. My biggest scandal, I married. It’s been the most beautiful romance that I could have ever imagined. The iconic Trincas still has that magic in the air when you walk inside. As I always say, the oldest thing in Trincas are the chandeliers and me.
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ELLE: What advice would you give young musicians hoping to make their mark in a competitive industry?
Usha Uthup: Hang on to your dream. Dream big because if you don’t have a dream how will you make a dream come true? Don’t ever give up if you believe in it and hang in there with a hundred per cent honesty, no artificiality, because if you depend only on glamour or a particular youth oriental thing, it’s going to fade away someday. Just be who you are.
