Usha Uthup
{{Short description|Indian singer & actress}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Usha Uthup
| background = solo_singer
| image = Padma Bhushan Smt Usha Uthup (cropped).jpg
| caption = Usha Uthup, {{circa|2024}}
| image_size =
| alias = Didi
| birth_name = Usha Iyer
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1947|11|08}}
| birth_place = Bombay, Maharashtra State, Dominion of India
(present day Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)
| instrument = Vocalist
| genre = Indian pop, filmi, jazz, R&B,{{cite book |last=Sundar |first=Pavitra |date=2020 |editor-last1=Brueck |editor-first1=Laura |editor-last2=Smith |editor-first2=Jacob |editor-last3=Verma |editor-first3=Neil |title=Indian Sound Cultures, Indian Sound Citizenship |publisher=University of Michigan Press |pages=140 |chapter=Usha Uthup and Her Husky, Heavy Voice |isbn=978-0-472-07434-1}} Indian classical music, Western
| occupation = {{hlist|Playback singer|actress}}
| years_active = 1966 – present
| module = {{Infobox person
| embed = yes
| awards = Padma Shri (2011)
Padma Bhushan (2024)
}}
}}
Usha Iyer Uthup (born 8 November 1947) is an Indian singer known for her deep contralto voice and her versatility across genres and languages. A prominent figure in Indian music since the 1970s, she has received a Filmfare Award, and was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri in 2011 and the Padma Bhushan in 2024 for her contribution in the field of arts.{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/music/news-and-interviews/Im-thrilled-beyond-comprehension-Usha-Uthup/articleshow/7366271.cms |title=I'm thrilled beyond comprehension: Usha Uthup |date=26 January 2011 |newspaper=The Times of India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219071211/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/music/news-and-interviews/Im-thrilled-beyond-comprehension-Usha-Uthup/articleshow/7366271.cms |archive-date=19 February 2011}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/2024-padma-awards-full-list/article67777593.ece |title=2024 Padma awards |date=25 January 2024 |website=The Hindu}}
Personal life
Usha was born on 7 November 1947{{Cite web |date=8 November 2011 |title=Nov 8th: Happy Birthday Usha Uthup! (Her Most Iconic Songs.) |url=https://www.missmalini.com/2011/11/08/nov-8th-happy-birthday-usha-uthup-her-most-iconic-songs |access-date=16 July 2023 |website=MissMalini |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Bureau |first=Odishatv |title=Did you know these interesting facts about the 'Queen of Pop' Usha Uthup, who turns 75 today |url=https://odishatv.in/news/entertainment/did-you-know-these-interesting-facts-about-the-queen-of-pop-usha-uthup-who-turns-75-today-189778 |access-date=16 July 2023 |website=Did you know these interesting facts about the ‘Queen of Pop’ Usha Uthup, who turns 75 today |language=en}} into a Tamil family{{cite magazine |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/good-housekeeping/story/its-great-to-be-me-usha-uthup-112757-2012-08-08 |title=It's Great To Be Me: Usha Uthup |date=8 August 2012 |magazine=India Today |access-date=8 August 2012}} in Mumbai.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=hub260211My_Bad.asp |title=Profile: My bad girl voice |volume=8 |issue=8 |date=26 February 2011 |magazine=Tehelka |access-date=19 February 2011 |archive-date=7 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907135526/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=hub260211My_Bad.asp |url-status=dead}} Her father was Vaidyanath Someshwar Sami Iyer.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Midnight-s-Children/Article1-913683.aspx |title=Midnight's Children |date=14 August 2012 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815082439/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Midnight-s-Children/Article1-913683.aspx |archive-date=15 August 2012}}
She studied at St. Agnes High School, Byculla. When she was in school she was thrown out of music class because she didn't fit in with a voice like hers. But her music teacher recognized that she had some music in her and would give her clappers or triangles to play. Even though she was not formally trained in music, she grew up in an atmosphere of music. Her parents used to listen to a wide range from Western classical to Hindustani and Carnatic including Kishori Amonkar and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan on radio and she used to join them.{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/12/04/stories/2003120400640400.htm |title=Tea, croissants and Usha Uthup |first=Anuj |last=Kumar |date=4 December 2003 |newspaper=The Hindu |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040102000422/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/12/04/stories/2003120400640400.htm |archive-date=2 January 2004}} She used to enjoy listening to Radio Ceylon.
Her next door neighbor was S.M.A. Pathan, who was then the deputy commissioner of police. His daughter, Jamila, influenced Usha to learn Hindi and take up Indian classical music. This fusion approach helped her to pioneer her unique brand of Indian pop in the 1970s.
She is married to Jani Chacko Uthup who is from Manarcaud Painumkal family of Kottayam, and was formerly married to the late Ramu. They have a daughter Anjali and a son Sunny, named after the song, "Sunny".{{cite news |url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/its-a-full-circle-for-usha-uthup/91208 |title=It's a full circle for Usha Uthup |first1=Melissa |last1=Dcosta |first2=Dhvani |last2=Solani |date=11 August 2010 |work=Mid-Day}} Her husband, Jani Chacko, died due to cardiac arrest on 8 July 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment/bollywood/legendary-singer-usha-uthup-s-husband-jani-chacko-uthup-passes-away/ar-BB1pCDl1?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=5a1bdd5208b044b6973efad1c03def98&ei=8|title=Legendary singer Usha Uthup's husband Jani Chacko Uthup passes away |date=9 July 2024 |website=The Times of India}}
Career
Usha Uthup was a judge in Star Vijay's Airtel Super Singer Junior Season 1 and Airtel Super Singer 5. Her first public singing occurred when she was nine. Her sisters, who were already exploring a career in music, introduced her to Ameen Sayani, then the most popular radio announcer in India. Ameen Sayani gave her an opportunity to sing in the Ovaltine Music Hour of Radio Ceylon. She sang a number called "Mockingbird Hill". After that, several appearances followed through her teenage years.
=Singing Career=
Image:Usha Uthup at Toshali National Crafts Mela, Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar 2.jpg
Usha Uthup started her music career in Chennai in 1969, singing in a small nightclub called Nine Gems in the basement of the erstwhile Safire Theatre complex on Mount Road,{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/in-conversation-with-usha-uthup-as-she-completes-50-years-as-a-singer/article27325397.ece |title=There's magic about Madras: Usha Uthup |last=Rajendra |first=Ranjani |date=30 May 2019 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=27 July 2019 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-02/news-and-interviews/28368378_1_usha-uthup-padma-shri-manmadhan-ambu |title=Padma Shri is icing on cake for Usha Uthup |first=M. |last=Suganth |date=2 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917151544/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-02/news-and-interviews/28368378_1_usha-uthup-padma-shri-manmadhan-ambu |newspaper=The Times of India |archive-date=17 September 2011}} wearing a saree and leg calipers.{{Citation needed |date=July 2019}} Her performance was so well received that the owner of the nightclub asked her to stay on for a week.{{cite web |url=http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=233 |title='I am completely a people's person...' – Usha Uthup |first=Naveen |last=Frank |date=18 February 2006 |website=Daijiworld |access-date=28 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517045434/http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=233 |archive-date=17 May 2009}} After her first night club gig, she began singing in Calcutta at night clubs such as "Trincas". She met her future husband, Uthup in Trincas . At about the same time, she also sang at "Talk of the Town", now known as "Not Just Jazz by the Bay" in Bombay (now Mumbai). After Trincas, her next engagement took her to Delhi where she sang at the Oberoi hotels. By happenstance, a film crew belonging to Navketan unit and Dev Anand visited the nightclub and they offered her a chance to sing movie playback. As a result, she started her Bollywood career with Ivory-Merchant's Bombay Talkies (1970) in which she sang an English number under Shankar-Jaikishan and then Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Originally, she was supposed to sing Dum Maro Dum along with Asha Bhosle for Hare Rama Hare Krishna. However, as a result of internal politicking on the part of other singers, she lost that chance but ended up singing an English verse.{{Citation needed |date=July 2019}}
In 1968, she recorded covers of two pop songs in English, "Jambalaya" and The Kingston Trio's "Greenback Dollar", on an EP, Love Story, and "Scotch and Soda", another Kingston Trio song, which sold very well in the Indian market. She also spent some time in London during this early period. She was a frequent visitor to Vernon Corea's BBC office at the Langham in London and was interviewed on London Sounds Eastern on BBC Radio London.
Usha visited Nairobi as part of an Indian festival. She was so popular that she was invited to stay on. Singing and quite often nationalistic songs in Swahili made her extremely popular and the then President Jomo Kenyatta made her an Honorary Citizen of Kenya. She sang the famous song "Malaika" ('Angel') with Fadhili Williams who was the original singer. She produced a record "Live in Nairobi" with a local band Fellini Five.
Uthup sang several songs in the 1970s and 1980s for music directors R. D. Burman and Bappi Lahiri. She also reprised some of R. D. Burman songs that were sung by others such as "Mehbooba Mehbooba" and "Dum Maro Dum" and popularised them to a distinct end.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/usha-uthup-wears-dignity-in-her-tone/article7651752.ece |title=Usha Uthup wears dignity in her tone |last=Nadadhur |first=Srivathsan |date=14 September 2015 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=27 July 2019 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
Uthup also sang for a two-volume collection of children's rhymes "Karadi Rhymes", which are "Indian Rhymes for Indian Kids", brought out by Karadi Tales ([http://www.karaditales.com www.karaditales.com]). The rhymes reflect the Indian ethos through the Sa-re-ga-ma, mangoes, Indian rivers, the train experiences, Indian festivals, indigenous trees, Cricket, Indian foods like bhelpuri and sambhar, Indian attire like the dhoti, sari, bindi and bangles and even some folk tales. With each rhyme set to an Indian raga, and sung in her characteristic voice with a feisty tempo, Usha creates the atmosphere for children and, surprisingly, even adults to sing along and dance to the toe-tapping beats.
She appeared as a judge on a singing reality show Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star – Season 2 (2012), aired on DD National channel, along with Ismail Darbar. She is the judge in the Season 3 of the show as well. She also appeared as a chief guest for Marathi singing reality show. She entertained the audience with Marathi songs.
She is a stage performer and gave performances all over the world and is known for her lively stage presence. She has been felicitated with several awards over the years, some of which include Rajiv Gandhi Purashkar for National Integration for quality music, Mahila Shiromani Purashkar for international peace, and Channel [V] award for outstanding achievement. She appeared on the Kapil Sharma Show on 26 May 2019.
She recorded her first album with Luis Banks for which she was paid Rs. 3500. Since then, she has recorded numerous albums. Usha's Hindi version of Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough", titled "Chhupke Kaon Aya", can be found on the album Tom Middleton – The Trip (2004). A cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" is on another Tom Middleton album, Cosmosonica – Tom Middleton Presents Crazy Covers Vol. 1 (2005). She recorded a song called "Rhythm and Blues" with the Indian rock band Parikrama which appeared on Channel V on 23 April 2007. Uthup received a lot of recognition for having a unique voice that ranges between contralto and alto.([https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/i-m-a-people-s-singer-usha-uthup/story-aUfpINcGaARcIrwsZLEzqK.html#:~:text=My%20voice%20was%20between%20contralto,I%20was%20determined%20to%20perform.])
=Acting Career=
Uthup is also an actress. In 2006, she acted in the Malayalam movie Pothan Vava as Kurisuveettil Mariamma.
She made a cameo appearance in the movie Bombay To Goa. In 2007, she appeared in Bow Barracks Forever directed by Anjun Dutt as herself. Again in 2007, she appeared in Hattrick music video as herself.
She appeared in disguise on Indian Idol 1 and 2. She was one of the co-judges of the 2007 and 2008 and Idea Star Singer Season V (2010).
She has a minor role in the 2010 Tamil movie Manmadan Ambu.
She also acted in Vishal Bhardwaj's 7 Khoon Maaf as a maid. She has also sung a song in the film which released on 18 February 2011. In 2012, she has starred in a Kannada film Parie.
In 2019, she appeared in the documentary If Not for You{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}} for which, she recorded a cover of "Blowin' in the Wind" by legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}
Discography
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Song !Film !Composer !Language |
| 1970
|"Jogan Pritam Ki" |Devi | rowspan="3" |Hindi |
| rowspan=2|1971
|"Mai bhi jaloon tu bhi jale" |
| "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" |
| rowspan=2|1974
|"I am in love" |M B Sreenivasan | rowspan="2" |Malayalam |
| "Love Is Just Around The Corner" |
| rowspan=2|1975
|"Love is beautiful" | rowspan="3" |Tamil |
| "Hello Lover"
| rowspan="2" |M.S.Viswanathan |
| 1976
|"It's Easy To Fool You" |
| rowspan="3" |1977
|"How Can I Tell You" | rowspan="2" |Sangharsha | rowspan="2" |Vijaya Bhaskar | rowspan="2" |Kannada |
| "We Have Got" |
| "Peethambara"
| | | rowspan="2" |Malayalam |
| rowspan="2" |1978
|"Where there is" |M S Vishwanathan |
| "One Two Cha Cha Cha"
| rowspan="3" |R D Burman | rowspan="7" |Hindi |
| rowspan="3" |1980
|"Doston Se Pyar Kiya" | rowspan="2" |Shaan |
| "Shaan Se..." |
| "Hari Om Hari"
| rowspan="4" |Bappi Lahiri |
| rowspan="2" |1981
|"Ramba" |
| "Tu Mujhe Jaan Se Bhi Pyara Hai" |
| 1982
|"Koi Yahan Aha Nache Nache" |
| rowspan=2|1984
|"Oh my darling" |Herself |Malayalam |
| "Hey Diwana"
| Kaveri | | Odia |
| rowspan="2"|1988
|"Sidhartha" |Shyam |Malayalam |
| "Akka Alla Tangi Alla"
| Vijaya Khadga | Kannada |
| 1990
|"Naaka Bandi" |Naaka Bandi | rowspan="2" |Bappi Lahiri | rowspan="2" |Hindi |
| rowspan=3|1991
|"Uri Uri Baba" |
| "Vegam Vegam Pogum Pogum"
| rowspan="2" |Ilaiyaraaja |Tamil |
| "Keechurallu"
|Keechurallu |Telugu |
| 1993
|"Chalo Chalk" |S P Venkatesh | rowspan="6" |Malayalam |
| rowspan=3|1994
|"Njanee Rathriye" |L Vaidyanathan |
| "Nanthyar Vilakkum" |
| "Mafia"
|Mafia |
| 1995
|"Jinka Ninja" |Kalamasseriyil Kalyaanayogam |Tomin Thankachari |
| 1996
|"Ladies college campusil" |R Anand |
| 1997
|"Daud" |Daud | rowspan="2" |Hindi |
| 1999
|"Raja Ki Kahani" |
| rowspan=2|2000
|"Melam Lotto" | rowspan="2" |Rapid Action Force | rowspan="2" |sailesh | rowspan="2" |Malayalam |
| "Manasilore" |
| 2001
|"Vande Mataram" |Jatin–Lalit, Sandesh Shandilya, Aadesh Shrivastav | rowspan="3" |Hindi |
| rowspan=2|2003
|"Kabhi Pa Liya Tho Kabhi Kho Diya" |Tabun |
| "Din Hai Na Ye Raat" |
| 2005
|"Rambhe Ninge" |Kannada |
| rowspan="3"|2006
|"Vaave Makane" |Malayalam |
| "Meter Iddone"
|Ambi | rowspan="2" |Kannada |
| "Yarivanu"
|Shubham |Gurikiran |
| rowspan="3"|2007
|"Wicket Bacha" (with Earl) | rowspan="2" |Hindi |
| "Teri Meri Merry Christmas"
|Bow barracks Forever |Anjun Dutt |
| "Kshana Kshana"
| rowspan="3" |Kannada |
| 2008
|"Yavva Yavva Naa Hege" |Gurukiran |
| 2009
|"Gudsu Gudsu" |Hamsalekha |
| rowspan=3|2011
|"Hai Ye Maya" |Hindi |
| "Viriyunnu"
|Malayalam |
| "Darling", "Doosri Darling" (with Rekha Bhardwaj)
| rowspan="4" |Hindi |
| rowspan="4"|2012
|"Ramba main Samba" |
| "Aami Shotti Bolchi" |
| "Yeh Raat Mona Lisa"
|Kaafiron Ki Namaaz |Advait Nemlekar |
| "Jhoom Jhoom Zara"
|Veer Samarth |Kannada |
| rowspan="2"|2014
|"Race Gurram" | rowspan="2" |S. Thaman |Telugu |
| "Dumeel"
|Tamil |
| rowspan=2|2016
|"Hoi Kiw/Chalo Chalo" |Hindi |
| "Dirty Picture"
|Telugu |
| 2019
|"Empuraane" |Malayalam |
| 2021
|"Drishyam 2 Title Track (Malayalam)" | |
| rowspan="3" |2022
|"Phire Takao" | rowspan="2" |Bengali |
| "Chumbok Mon"
|Nilayan Chatterjee |
| "Drishyam 2 Title Track (Hindi)"
|Hindi |
| 2024
|"Lucky Baskhar Title Track" |Telugu |
| 2025
|"Azrael" |Malayalam |
Filmography
| class="wikitable" | |||
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Language | |||
| rowspan="1"| 1973 | Bombay to Goa | Hindi | |
| 1975 | Melnaattu Marumagal | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Pothan Vava | Kurisuveettil Mariamma | Malayalam |
| rowspan="2"|2007 | Bow Barracks Forever | rowspan="2"|Herself | English |
| Hattrick | Hindi | ||
| rowspan="1"| 2010 | Manmadan Ambu | Indira | Tamil |
| rowspan="1"| 2011 | 7 Khoon Maaf | Maggie Aunty | Hindi |
| rowspan="3"| 2012 | Parie | Kannada | |
| Ideal Couple | Sophy | Malayalam | |
| Keymon & Nani in Space Adventure{{cite web |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k12/nov/nov62.php |title=Nick's Keymon Ache to make its theatrical debut on 9 November |date=6 November 2012 |website=indiantelevision.com |access-date=4 January 2017}} | Nani (voice role) | rowspan="3" | Hindi | |
| 2015 | X: Past Is Present | Mrs. Baker | |
| 2016 | Rock On 2 | Herself (cameo) | |
| 2019 | If Not for You{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}} | Herself | English |
| 2022 | Achcham Madam Naanam Payirppu | Charukesi | rowspan="2" | Tamil |
| 2025
|Meera Patnayak |
=Television=
| class="wikitable" | |||
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Language | |||
| 2004–2006 | Indian Idol | Guest | Hindi |
| rowspan="2" |2007–2017
| rowspan="8" |Judge | rowspan="2" |Tamil | |||
| Super Singer Senior | |||
| 2007–2008 | Star Singer | Malayalam | |
| 2011 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champion | Kannada | |
| rowspan=3|2012 | Bharat Ki Shaan: Singing Star – Season 2 | Hindi | |
| Gaurav Maharashtracha | Marathi | ||
| Kuyil Paatu | Tamil | ||
| rowspan=2|2016 | Phire Asar Gaan | Bengali | |
| . | rowspan="2" |Guest | Malayalam | |
| 2018 | Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala | Hindi |
Awards and nominations
=Civilian awards=
- Padma Shri - 2011{{cite web |url=http://www.topnews.in/light/usha-uthup-girish-kasaravalli-get-padma-shri-231934 |title=Usha Uthup, Girish Kasaravalli to get Padma Shri |website=TopNews.in |date=25 January 2011 |access-date=13 March 2012 |archive-date=9 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109041410/http://www.topnews.in/light/usha-uthup-girish-kasaravalli-get-padma-shri-231934 |url-status=dead}} – Fourth Highest Civilian Award presented by Government of India
- Padma Bhushan - 2024 – Third Highest Civilian Award presented by Government of India
=Film awards=
{{BLP sources section|date=April 2023}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Nominated Song ! scope="col" | Film ! scope="col" |Result ! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| 2012
| rowspan="4" |"Darling" | rowspan="4" |7 Khoon Maaf |{{won}} | |
| 2012
|{{nom}} | |
| 2012
|{{nom}} | |
| 2012
|rowspan="2"|Mirchi Music Awards |{{nom}} |{{Cite web |url=http://www.radiomirchi.com/mma2011/hindi/nominees.php |title=Nominations - Mirchi Music Award Hindi 2011 |date=30 January 2013 |website=Radio Mirchi |access-date=24 May 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130161203/http://www.radiomirchi.com/mma2011/hindi/nominees.php |archive-date=30 January 2013}} |
| 2017
| Lifetime Achievement Award |N/A |N/A |{{won}} | |
| 2006
|Best Character actress |N/A |{{nom}} | |
| 1999
|rowspan="4"|Kalakar Awards |rowspan="2"|Best Audio Album (Bangla) |"Darling" |N/A |{{won}} | |
| 2002
|Chai Silpir Samman |N/A |{{won}} | |
| 2004
|rowspan="2"|Best Playback Singer for the film |"Kabhi Pa Liya To Kabhi Kho Diya" |{{won}} | |
| 2013
|"Ramba Mein Samba" |Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi |{{won}} | |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.ushauthup.com/}}
- {{IMDb name|0412683|Usha Uthup}}
- {{cite web |title=Before Darrrling, Usha Uthup sang these hit songs! |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-hit-songs-of-usha-uthup/20110217.htm |website=Rediff.com Movies}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2020–2029}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Uthup, Usha}}
Category:Bengali-language singers
Category:Bollywood playback singers
Category:English-language singers from India
Category:Gujarati-language singers
Category:Hindi-language singers
Category:Indian women playback singers
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Category:Marathi-language singers
Category:Konkani-language singers
Category:Nepali-language singers from India
Category:Russian-language singers of India
Category:Tamil-language singers
Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts
Category:Kannada playback singers
Category:Indian women pop singers
Category:21st-century Indian singers
Category:Indian women jazz singers
Category:20th-century Indian singers
Category:20th-century Indian women singers
Category:21st-century Indian women singers
Category:Women musicians from Maharashtra
Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema
Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema
Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema