Usha Uthup, born Usha Iyer on November 8, 1947, in Mumbai, India, is an Indian singer known for her deep contralto voice and versatility across genres and languages. Her musical journey began at nine when she sang "Mockingbird Hill" on Radio Ceylon's Ovaltine Music Hour. Uthup started her professional career in 1969, performing at nightclubs like Nine Gems in Chennai and Trincas in Calcutta. She made her Bollywood debut with Bombay Talkies (1970), singing an English number under Shankar-Jaikishan. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Uthup collaborated with music directors like R.D. Burman and Bappi Lahiri, reprising songs such as "Mehbooba Mehbooba" and "Dum Maro Dum". She released albums including Shai Ra Ri (2001), Aha Tumi Sundari Kata Kolkata (2011), and The Magnificent Artiste (2016). Uthup's contributions to the arts earned her the Padma Shri award in 2011 and the Padma Bhushan in 2024.
