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Always jolly, always jiving, Usha Uthup is ready with a new album
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As a student I was thrown out of music class because of my robust voice
THE SURVIVOR Usha Uthup feels her strength lies in knowing her weakness Photo: Mahesh Harilal
To be successful in life you must `believe in yourself'. This mantra is well epitomised by Usha Uthup who didn't have a conventional tone or style of singing, however she believed in herself.
And in her talent which led her to become one of the most recognised singers in the industry. Her songs like "Dam Maro Dam" and "Hari Om Hari" continue to inveigle people to take the dance floor. ", but that was not enough to stop me from following my passion," says Usha or didi as she is mostly referred to.
She was in New Delhi for the launch of her latest album `We Believe In Now' released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently.
The album has contributions of more than 80 artists who have got together to raise money for the tsunami victims. Usha says, "Music is a language that the whole world speaks. It unites people and cuts across the barriers of colour and creed."
Talking about the album she says that it celebrates the spirit of "not holding on to the past and looking towards a better tomorrow."
She adds that the album celebrates `India', as it has artists from all corners of the country and the songs are composed in five different languages.
Unique voice
Commenting on her own career curve she shares she didn't have to try to be different from the others as she was actually different from the rest owing to her robust voice.
She recalls, "I started off by singing old songs in the nightclubs around the late 1960s. At that time such singers didn't get the due respect in the industry. Today, when Asha Bhonsle sings `One Two Cha Cha Cha', it feels great that a singer of her stature is singing my song."
She considers herself lucky as she began at a time when there was a craze for westernised music amongst the Indians.
Pronouncing herself as a complete Indian, she says she belongs to the Tamil Nadu, grew up in Mumbai and is now living in Kolkata. "I love living in Kolkota as the city gives you a chance to be what you want to be."
She even releases an album each year in Bangla on the occasion of Durga Puja.
Usha Uthup, who has sung in over 20 languages, says she loves listening to ghazals as well. However, she jokingly adds, "My strength is that I know my weakness and thus, haven't tried to get into singing ghazals."
A platform
Commenting on the reality shows and talent hunts, Usha says that they provide a platform for the nascent talent. However, she advocates better judging procedures so that the real talent actually comes up.
Usha Uthup never fitted into a stereotype of a singer, but she took the pop music to a new level.
Arguably, she is the pioneer of this genre of music. However, today there is a dearth of pop singers especially female pop singers.
Usha says that playback singing still remains the aim of every aspiring singer. Quoting examples of Alisha Chinoy and Daler Mehendi, Usha says even successful pop singers have shifted to Bollywood.
Talking about her plans, the lady who has sung about 350 film songs, is busy with an album named "Kashmir To Kanyakumari."
ADITIA BHALLA
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