'I'm the original 'didi'

For the past 45 years, veteran singer Usha Uthup has dominated the music scene in India and has created a name for herself worldwide. With a voice that stands out in a crowd, she has never failed to mesmerise her listeners.

Popularly known as ‘didi’, she says, “I’m the original ‘didi’. When I arrived in Kolkata 45 years ago, people called me ‘didi’. ‘Ma’am’ is just too formal, I prefer ‘didi’, ‘chechi’ or ‘akka’.” She also calls herself a “compulsive optimist”. “Even if something bad happens, I’m ready to look for some good in it.”

Having never learnt a note of music in her life, Usha has turned that ‘disadvantage’ into her very successful career. She can now sing in 17 Indian languages and eight foreign ones. “It’s a different thing when you sing to a person in their language. The magic is different. I love people and I love languages, so I work hard to learn each one, it’s not easy. It’s my job to communicate with people.” She adds, “Nowadays, the exposure is so much and so are the opportunities. Everyone doesn’t have to stay without training. But for me, I’ve been a stage artiste all my life and I’m happy with what I’ve got. I don’t regret anything but I do feel sad sometimes that if I had learned music, I could have picked up music faster - to read notations.”

Although she has had her share of hits in Bollywood and in cinema, she says she prefers being a stage artiste. “I’m not in it for Bollywood. I’m grateful to Bollywood for whatever it’s given me but I’m more of a stage person. If one Bollywood hit gives me 365 shows, I’m very happy.”

Talking about the upcoming talent in the music industry, she says, “In my time, there was one cake and five people ate from it, now, it’s the same cake and 150 people eating from it. With the advent of electronic media and reality shows, the amount of talent that is getting a platform to perform is immense. The sky is the limit.”