Usha Uthup, once removed from school music class, is now known worldwide for her voice

Making a distinct mark in Bollywood music is not easy for any artist. It takes years of hard work, determination and skill. Some artists find that their very difference becomes the reason for their success. Singer Usha Uthup is one such artist. With her deep, powerful voice, she has carved out a special place in Indian music. Interestingly, the voice for which she is known across the world today was once the reason she was removed from her school music class.

Usha Uthup was born on November 8, 1947, in Mumbai, into a Tamil family. She grew up in a musical environment. Her parents loved Western music as well as Indian classical music, and she developed a liking for singing from childhood. She studied at St Agnes High School in Byculla, Mumbai. She enjoyed singing in her school days too, but her voice was quite different from the other girls' and heavier. For this reason, she was once thrown out of the school music class.

However, her music teacher had recognised the talent in her. She was therefore given the chance to play instruments such as the clapper and the triangle instead of singing. Despite having no formal training in music, Usha's love for it did not diminish.

Usha sang at a public event for the first time at the age of just nine. Her sisters were also fond of music, and through them she met the well-known radio announcer Ameen Sayani. Sayani gave her a chance to sing on Radio Ceylon's programme "Ovaltine Music Hour", where she performed the song "Mockingbird Hill". Her musical journey began from there.

Her career as a professional singer began in Chennai in 1969, where she started singing at a nightclub called Nine Gems. Her very first show drew an excellent response from the audience, after which the club's owner gave her the chance to sing for a week running. She then performed at several nightclubs in Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai. It was in Kolkata that she met Jani Chacko Uthup, and the two later married.

After nightclubs, Usha Uthup showed the magic of her voice in Bollywood too. She began playback singing in 1970 with the film "Bombay Talkie". She then sang for the film "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" as well. She got the chance to work with veteran composers such as R D Burman and Bappi Lahiri.

Songs such as "Rambha Ho Ho Ho", "Mehbooba Mehbooba" and "Darling" brought her great popularity. She left the stamp of her voice on many genres, including pop, jazz, rock and film music. The voice that once made her leave the school music class is the one that later gave her a distinct identity in the world of music. Today, Usha Uthup's journey is regarded as an inspiration for many new singers.