Usha (born 29 May 1980) is an Indian singer who works predominantly in
Telugu
Telugu may refer to:
* Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India
*Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India
* Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language
** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode
S ...
. She has sung in
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
and
Tamil also. In a career spanning about 10 years, she has established herself as one of the leading playback singers in the Telugu film industry and has worked with many major music directors.
Career
Music competitions
Usha began her singing career with "Paadutha Teeyaga", a music based program on
Eenadu Television hosted by singer
SP Balasubramanyam
Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020), also referred to as SPB or SP Balu or Balu, was an Indian playback singer, television presenter, actor, music composer, dubbing artist, and film producer. He is wi ...
. She stood first in the competition and later followed up by winning another music contest titled "Navaragam" on
Gemini TV
Gemini TV is an Indian Telugu language general entertainment pay television channel. It was launched on 9 February 1995 by Gemini Group, owned by A. Manohar Prasad (grandson of L. V. Prasad), in association with Sun TV Network. In 1996-97, Su ...
.
Usha participated in various music-related shows on TV between 1996 and 2000. Her performance in "Endaro Mahanubhavlu" on
Gemini TV
Gemini TV is an Indian Telugu language general entertainment pay television channel. It was launched on 9 February 1995 by Gemini Group, owned by A. Manohar Prasad (grandson of L. V. Prasad), in association with Sun TV Network. In 1996-97, Su ...
won her appreciation and applause from the audience. She later participated in "Meri Awaz Suno" on
Star TV and was one of the finalists in the All-India finals. She also participated in various Hindi programs on channels like ELTV and
Zee TV
Zee TV (stylised as ZEE TV) is a Hindi general entertainment pay television
Pay television, also known as subscription television, premium television or, when referring to an individual service, a premium channel, refers to Subscription bus ...
.
Movie career
Usha got her maiden opportunity from Sri.
Vandemataram Srinivas, renowned music director. Her first song was from the movie ''Illalu''. She got her major break in
Telugu film industry
Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Telugu cinema is based in Film Nagar, Hy ...
in 2000. She sang various chart busters for Telugu movies like ''
Indra'', ''
Chiruta
''Chirutha'' () is a 2007 Indian Telugu language, Telugu-language action film written and directed by Puri Jagannadh, and produced by C. Ashwini Dutt under the banner Vyjayanthi Movies. The film stars Ram Charan, Neha Sharma, Prakash Raj and Ashi ...
'', ''
Athidhi'', ''
Pourudu'', ''
Varsham'', ''
Bhadra
''Bhadra''Feminine: sa, भद्रा, Bhadrā is a Sanskrit word meaning 'good', 'fortune' or 'auspicious'. It is also the name of many men, women and objects in Hindu mythology.
Male Figures King of Chedi
Bhadra was a king of Chedi Kingdo ...
'', ''
Chitram'', ''
Nuvvu Nenu'', ''Manasantha Nuvve'', ''Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu'', ''
Jayam'', ''
Santhosham'', ''
Nee Sneham'', ''Avunanna Kadanna'' and many more (for complete filmography, please see the section below).
Concerts
Usha has performed in close to 150 concerts worldwide. Apart from her own solo concerts, she has performed alongside legendary singers and musicians like Sri.
SP Balasubramanyam
Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020), also referred to as SPB or SP Balu or Balu, was an Indian playback singer, television presenter, actor, music composer, dubbing artist, and film producer. He is wi ...
,
Shankar Mahadevan
Shankar Mahadevan (born 3 March 1967) is an Indian singer and composer who is part of the Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy trio that writes music for Indian films.
Personal life and early career
Shankar Mahadevan was born in Chembur, Mumbai into a T ...
,
Hariharan,
Mani Sharma
Mani may refer to:
Geography
* Maní, Casanare, a town and municipality in Casanare Department, Colombia
* Mani, Chad, a town and sub-prefecture in Chad
* Mani, Evros, a village in northeastern Greece
* Mani, Karnataka, a village in Dakshina ...
,
P. Suseela and
Mano among many others. Her biggest achievement was performing with Sri. SP Balasubramanyam at the
Afro-Asian Games
The Afro-Asian Games were the series of inter-continental multi-sport competitions, held between athletes from Asia and Africa. These Games are one-of-a-kind, since no other sporting competition brings athletes from these two continents together ...
opening ceremony in 2003 in
Hyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part ...
.
TV Programmes
* Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Little Champs (Zee Telugu) - 2007
* Swaraneerajanam (Zee Telugu) - 2008
* Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Nuvva Nena (Zee Telugu) - 2010
* Super Singer 7 (MAA TV ) - 2012
* Super Singer 10 (MAA TV)- 2019
* Super singer 2020 by vastavam
Awards
Nandi Awards
* Best Female Playback Singer (TV Category) in 2006 for TV film song "Bommarillu Podarillu"
*
Best Female Playback Singer in 2002 for "Chinuku Tadiki" song from ''
Nee Sneham''
* Best Female Playback Singer in 2001 for "Kallu Teravani" song from ''
Padma''
Filmography
Usha has recorded with music directors, such as
Ilaiyaraaja,
M. M. Keeravani
Koduri Marakathamani Keeravani (born 4 July 1961; credited as M. M. Keeravani) is an Indian film composer, playback singer, and lyricist, who predominantly works in Telugu cinema along with other languages including Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Ma ...
, Koti,
Mani Sharma
Mani may refer to:
Geography
* Maní, Casanare, a town and municipality in Casanare Department, Colombia
* Mani, Chad, a town and sub-prefecture in Chad
* Mani, Evros, a village in northeastern Greece
* Mani, Karnataka, a village in Dakshina ...
,
Vandemataram Srinivas,
Devi Sri Prasad, Kamalakar,
RP Patnaik,
Chakri,
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Yuvan Shankar Raja or Abdul Haliq (born 31 August 1979) is an Indian film score and soundtrack composer and singer-songwriter. He mainly scores music for Tamil films. Considered a versatile composer, he is particularly known for his use of We ...
,
Ramana Gogula
Ramana Gogula (born Gogula Ramana Murthy) is an Indo-American music composer and singer of film music and Indian pop, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist. His notable film compositions include '' Premante Idera'' (1998), ''Thammudu'' (1999) ...
and others.
* ''Manorama'' (2009)
* ''Ee Vayasulo'' (2009)
* ''Junction'' (2008)
* ''Mr. Gireesam'' (2008)
* ''Sri Medaram Sammakka Sarakka Mahatyam'' (2008)
* ''Gunde Jhallumandi'' (2008)
* ''
Pandurangadu'' (2008)
* ''Erra Samudram'' (2008)
* ''
Pourudu'' (2008)
* ''Bhadradri'' (2008)
* ''
Ontari
Kapu refers to a social grouping of agriculturists found primarily in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Kapus are primarily an agrarian community, forming a heterogeneous peasant caste.
They are classified as a For ...
'' (2008)
* ''
Athidhi'' (2007)
* ''Bhayya'' (2007)
* ''
Chiruta
''Chirutha'' () is a 2007 Indian Telugu language, Telugu-language action film written and directed by Puri Jagannadh, and produced by C. Ashwini Dutt under the banner Vyjayanthi Movies. The film stars Ram Charan, Neha Sharma, Prakash Raj and Ashi ...
'' (2007)
* ''Aa Roje'' (2007)
* ''Kalyanam'' (2007)
* ''Manchukurise Velalo'' (2007)
* ''Missing'' (2007)
* ''Pulakintha'' (2006)
* ''Amma Meeda Ottu'' (2005)
* ''Avunanna Kaadanna'' (2005)
* ''Ayodhya'' (2005)
* ''
Bhadra
''Bhadra''Feminine: sa, भद्रा, Bhadrā is a Sanskrit word meaning 'good', 'fortune' or 'auspicious'. It is also the name of many men, women and objects in Hindu mythology.
Male Figures King of Chedi
Bhadra was a king of Chedi Kingdo ...
'' (2005)
* ''Dhairyam'' (2005)
* ''
Evadi Gola Vaadidi'' (2005)
* ''Friendship'' (2005)
* ''Good Boy'' (2005)
* ''Guru'' (2005)
* ''Manchukurise Velalo'' (2005)
* ''Meenakshi'' (2005)
* ''Moguds Pellams'' (2005)
* ''Pellam Pitchodu'' (2005)
* ''Pourusham'' (2005)
* ''Sada Mee Sevalo'' (2005)
* ''Satti'' (2005)
* ''Shravana Masam'' (2005)
* ''Thakadimitha'' (2005)
* ''Venkat Tho Alivelu'' (2005)
* ''
Aa Naluguru'' (2004)
* ''Aadi C/O ABN College'' (2004)
* ''Apuroopam'' (2004)
* ''Avunu Nijame'' (2004)
* ''Jai'' (2004)
* ''Koduku'' (2004)
* ''Maa Ilavelpu'' (2004)
* ''Nayudamma'' (2004)
* ''Preminchukunnam Pelliki Randi'' (2004)
* ''Sreenu C/O Anu'' (2004)
* ''Sreenu Vasanthi Laxmi'' (2004)
* ''Swamy'' (2004)
* ''Tapana'' (2004)
* ''Thanks'' (2004)
* ''
Varsham'' (2004)
* ''
Aadanthe Ado Type'' (2003)
* ''Aayudham'' (2003)
* ''Appudappudu'' (2003)
* ''
Dil'' (2003)
* ''Fools'' (2003)
* ''Golmaal'' (2003)
* ''Janaki Weds Sriram'' (2003)
* ''
Johnny
Johnny is an English language personal name. It is usually an affectionate diminutive of the masculine given name John, but from the 16th century it has sometimes been a given name in its own right for males and, less commonly, females.
Varia ...
'' (2003)
* ''Kaartik'' (2003)
* ''Kalyanam'' (2003)
* ''Maa Bapubommaku Pellanta'' (2003)
* ''Missamma'' (2003)
* ''
Neeku Nenu Naaku Nuvvu'' (2003)
* ''
Nijam'' (2003)
* ''Sambhu'' (2003)
* ''Aahuti'' (2002)
* ''
Allari Ramudu
''Allari Ramudu'' ( English: ''Naughty Ramu'') is a 2002 Indian Telugu-language action comedy film which starred N. T. Rama Rao Jr, Nagma, Gajala and Aarthi Agarwal. B. Gopal directed this film. It was dubbed into Hindi as ''Main Hoon Khu ...
'' (2002)
* ''Ammulu'' (2002)
* ''Andam'' (2002)
* ''Anveshna'' (2002)
* ''Chance'' (2002)
* ''Dhanush'' (2002)
* ''Eeswar'' (2002)
* ''Gemini'' (2002)
* ''Girl Friend'' (2002)
* ''Hai'' (2002)
* ''
Indra'' (2002)
* ''
Jayam'' (2002)
* ''Jenda'' (2002)
* ''Jodi No.1'' (2002)
* ''Kubusam'' (2002)
* ''Manasundi...Ra!'' (2002)
* ''Memu'' (2002)
* ''Nee Premakai'' (2002)
* ''
Nee Sneham'' (2002)
* ''Neethodu Kaavali'' (2002)
* ''Nenu Ninnu Premistunnanu'' (2002)
* ''Ninne Cherukunta'' (2002)
* ''Nuvve Nenu Nene Nuvvu'' (2002)
* ''Pellam Oorelithe'' (2002)
* ''Premante'' (2002)
* ''Prudhvi Narayana'' (2002)
* ''
Santhosham'' (2002)
* ''
Sreeram
''Sreeram'' is a 2002 Indian Telugu-language action masala film starring Uday Kiran, Anita Hassanandani and Ashish Vidyarthi. This film was directed by V. N. Aditya and produced by Burugapally Siva Rama Krishna. Music was scored by R. P. Patnaik. ...
'' (2002)
* ''Toli Parichayam'' (2002)
* ''Vachinavaadu Suryudu'' (2002)
* ''Ammo Bomma'' (2001)
* ''Badrachalam'' (2001)
* ''Manasantha Nuvve'' (2001)
* ''Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu'' (2001)
* ''
Nuvvu Nenu'' (2001)
* ''Premaku Swagatham'' (2001)
* ''Shivudu'' (2001)
* ''
Takkari Donga'' (2001)
* ''Vechi Vunta'' (2001)
* ''Baachi'' (2000)
* ''
Chitram'' (2000)
* ''Shubhavela'' (2000)
* ''Chantigadu''
* ''Colours''
* ''Pavan Subbalakshmi Preminchukunnarata''
* ''Ramma ! Chilakamma''
* ''Rowdi''
Telugu Discography
External links
Official Website*
Interview IIIInterview IVVideo interview�
II�
IIIUsha in Padalanivundi
{{DEFAULTSORT:Usha
1979 births
Living people
Indian women playback singers
Telugu playback singers
21st-century Indian singers
Nandi Award winners
People from Guntur district
Singers from Andhra Pradesh
Film musicians from Andhra Pradesh
Women musicians from Andhra Pradesh
21st-century Indian women singers