Mangalore: I Turned My Weakness into Strength—Usha Uthup
Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)
Mangalore, May 11: Eminent multi-lingual singer Usha Uthup said, “I love my voice and I have turned my weakness into strength”, talking of her voice being different from that of other female singers.
She was talking to media persons at the Hotel Gateway before leaving the city after attending the first global Konkani music awards held at Kalangann in Shakthi Nagar on Sunday May 10.
Replying to a question about her unconventional voice she said, “It is a misconception that the female voice should be on a low note. This is also a preconceived idea that female stars have. But music director R D Burman wanted me to sing. He gave me the opportunity to sing; I have also sung for music director Bappi Lahiri.”
She said that she had been thrown out of her music class for the reason that her voice was not good. Uthup added that her entry into the field of music was by chance and when she made her debut, the recognition she had was equal to that of a girl-next-door.
She recalled that she had sung in the Mithun Chakravarthy starrer ‘Roti ki Keemath’.
Uthup said that her voice was often used for songs to be picturized on the vamps in Bollywood films.
“When I sang for a week in a night club in those days, I got one Kanjeevaram saree, which is my favourite”, said Usha. “I like sarees very much. The saree is the most dignified attire when it is properly worn.”
Uthup even sang a few lines from her songs in Spanish, Italian, Zulu, and Kenyan. Having sung in over 15 languages in India and more than 10 foreign languages, she said that language and religion was no bar to music.
“I was a great fan of Radio Ceylon and Vivid Bharathi. I grew up listening to these as there was no television and no music programmes like today”, she added.
Speaking about her family she said that alongwith her elder sisters Indira, Uma and younger sister Maya, they were known as the ‘Sami sisters’. Uthup added that in recent times Uma had withdrawn from the music scene.
“If there is any opportunity, we will arrange for a ‘Sami sisters’ programme”, she said.
Uthup said that the music awards ceremony arranged by Mandd Sobhann was very nice and different from the programmes which she usually attended.
Eric Ozario, Gurkar of Mandd Sobhann, and others were also present.
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