Usha Timothy is a veteran Bollywood playback singer. Referred to as a "Singer with a difference" She began her career in the film Himalay Ki Godmein (1965). She has sung 5,000 songs in multiple Indian languages such as

Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

, Punjabi,

Bhojpuri Bhojpuri may refer to: * Bhojpuri language, an Indo-Aryan language of India and Nepal * Bhojpuri grammar, grammatical rules of the language * Bhojpuri nouns, nouns of the language * Bhojpuri people, people who speak the language * Bhojpuri region ...

and

Marathi Marathi may refer to: *Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra, India **Marathi people (Uttar Pradesh), the Marathi people in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh *Marathi language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Mar ...

etc.

Early life

Usha Timothy was born in

Nagpur Nagpur (; ISO 15919, ISO: ''Nāgapura'') is the second capital and third-largest city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is called the heart of India because of its central geographical location. It is the largest and most populated city i ...

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

, India in a Christian family. Her father worked for the CBI. She was the youngest of the eleven siblings. Her elder brother, Madhusudan Timothy was inclined to music and often organized musical ''jalsas'' (gatherings) at home. Usha took her early musical lessons from Pt Laxman Prasad. She also learnt

Tappa Tappa is a form of Indian semi-classical vocal music. Its specialty is a rolling pace based on fast, subtle and knotty construction. Its tunes are melodious and sweet, and depict the emotional outbursts of a lover. Tappe (plural) were sung mostly ...

s and

Thumri Thumri () is a vocal genre or style of Indian music. The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb ''thumuknaa'', which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dram ...

s from Nirmala Devi.

Career

Usha was discovered by Kalyanji Anandji. In 1956–57, a musical concert was held. It was called Kalyanji Anandji Night and prominent male singers like

Mohammed Rafi Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian playback singer. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Rafi was notable for his versatility and range of voice ...

Manna Dey Prabodh Chandra Dey (; 1 May 1919 − 24 October 2013), known by his stage name Manna Dey, was an Indian playback singer, music director, and musician. He had a classical music background, being part of the Bhendibazaar gharana, Bhendibazaar Gh ...

Hemant Kumar Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (16 June 1920 – 26 September 1989), known professionally as Hemanta Mukherjee and Hemant Kumar, was an Indian music director and a playback singer who primarily sang in Bengali and Hindi, along with several other India ...

Mukesh Mukesh is an epithet for the Hindu god Shiva, and literally means "conqueror of the Muka demon". It is commonly used as a male given name in India. People with the name Mukesh include: * Mukesh (singer) (1923–1976), Indian playback singer from ...

performed songs composed by Kalyanji Anandji. The event was organized by Usha's father. Since there was no female singer to perform, Madhusudan suggested eight-year-old Usha's name to Kalyanji Anandji. She performed "Rasik Balma" from '' Chori Chori'' (1956) before the audience. Her performance pleased the audience as well as Kalyanji Anandji, who made her a part of their troupe. She did what was considered her first playback for them in Himalay Ki Godmein (1965). In that film, her duet with

"Tu Raat Khadi Thi Chhat Pe" was well received. However, the first playback she gave was for a song in the 1962 film ''Durga Puja''. Her major work was with Kalyanji Anandji for whom she sang many hit songs in the 1970s most of them duets with Mohammed Rafi. In 1967, Laxmikant Pyarelal gave her two songs in the film '' Taqdeer''. The songs were "Jab Jab Bahar Aayi" and "Papa Jaldi Aa Jana", both songs became popular. She was greatly inspired by Mohammed Rafi. She used to ask newcomers to follow the singing style of Rafi. She has also sung with Kishore Kumar in the song "Are Rafta Rafta Dekho Aankh Meri Ladi Hai".

Popular Songs

Some of her popular songs in Bollywood films include: * "Natkhat Pare Hat Chhod" (Maharani Padmini) (1964) * "Taqdeer Ne Kya Angdaai Li" (Sunehre Qadam) (1966) * "Jab Jab Bahaar Aayi" (Taqdeer) (1967) * "London Paris Ghoom Ke Dekhen" (Parivaar) (1968) * "Dhol Baja Dhol Dhol Jaaniya" (Vishwas) (1969) * "Honthon Pe Inkaar Thoda Thoda" (Raat Ke Andhere Mein) (1969) * "Ae Sapnon Ke Raja" (Nateeja) (1969) * "Jo Mama Mera Aayega" (Heer Ranjha) (1970) * "Main Hoon Saamne Tu Mere Saamne" (Kaanch Aur Heera) (1972) * "Are Rafta Rafta Dekho" (Kahani Kismat Ki) (1973) * "Ho Bairi Saiyaan Ki Nazariya" (Uljhan) (1975) * "Kali Kali Zulfon Mein" (Farishta Ya Qaatil) (1977) * "Honolulu Se Aayi Hoon Main" (Khanjar) (1979) * "Meri Jaan Tumse Mohabbat Hai" (Mera Salaam) (1980) * "Ja Pori Ja" (Rahem Dil Jallad) (1985)

Collaborations

Kalyanji Anandji

Usha Timothy has sung over a hundred songs in her collaboration with Kalyanji Anandji. Kalyanji Anandji were the very first to trace Usha's musical talent, incidental in a musical soiree. Impressed, they aimed at making her a prominent singer in Bollywood. They gave her "Tu Raat Khadi Thi" with Mohammed Rafi to sing in the 1965 film Himalay Ki Godmein starring Mala Sinha.. She was nervous singing with the legendary singer. The song proved to be a major hit and was a turning point of her career. This, however, was not her debut work, she sang in a few films before it. Her major body of work is credited with Kalyanji Anandji. She has also worked with other composers like Bulo C Rani, Roshan, Hansraj Behl, S.N. Tripathi, S. Mohinder, Sardar Malik, Usha Khanna, Sonik-Omi, Babul, Lala Sattar and Jagdish Khanna.

Mohammed Rafi

Usha was a great fan of Mohammed Rafi since her childhood. She had grown up listening to Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi songs. She recorded her first hit track "Tu Raat Khadi Thi" in Himalay Ki Godmein. The popularity of this song made them a successful pair. She has sung with other major playback singers including

Kishore Kumar Kishore Kumar (born Abhas Kumar Ganguly; ; 4 August 1929 – 13 October 1987) was an Indian playback singer, musician and actor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest, most influential and dynamic singers in the history of modern India ...

Shamshad Begum Shamshad Begum (Urdu: شمشاد بیگم, IAST: ''Śamśād Bēgam''; 14 April 1919 – 23 April 2013) was an Indian singer who was one of the first playback singers in the Hindi film industry. Notable for her distinctive voice and range, sh ...

Suman Kalyanpur Suman Kalyanpur (born as Suman Hemmadi; 28 January 1937) is an Indian playback singer who is most notable for her work in Hindi cinema. She recorded songs for movies in several languages besides Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Ka ...

, Hemlata and Krishna Kalle. Remembering Shamshad Begum, she says, "Shamshad ji had a very attractive and loving personality. She used to treat me like her own Child. Her voice had that "Khanak" and openness which I have never seen in any other singer's. During recording, She used to say, Beta Dum (power) Ke Saath Gaao and I used to laugh, Shamshad ji aapke jaisi power to kisi ki voice mein nahin hai!". Usha Timothy was also a regular participant in the shows of C. Ramchandra also. She says, "I used to be part of his shows regularly. In fact, the famous Pradeep song, 'Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon' was initially sung as a duet by me with C. Ramchandra sahab for a show."

Filmography

List of Hindi films: #Durga Puja (1962) #Birju Uystad (1964) #Maharani Padmini (1964) #Char Chakram (1965) # Himalay Ki Godmein (1965) #Sati Nari (1965) #Sunehre Kadam (1966) #Veer Bajarang (1966) #Vidyarthi (1966) #Johar in Bombay (1967) #Mera Munna (1967) # Ram Rajya (1967) #Taqdeer (1967) #Fareb (1968) #Har Har Gange (1968) #Parivar (1968) #Apna Khoon Apna Dushman (1969) #

Mahua Mahua or Mahuaa may refer to: Botany * '' Madhuca longifolia'' or mahua, a tree in the family Sapotaceae * ''Mahua'' (moss), a genus of mosses in family Hypnaceae Culture and entertainment * Mahua (snack), a Chinese fried dough twist * Mahuli ...

(1969) #Nateeja (1969) #Raat Ke Andhere Mein (1969) #Vishwas (1969) #Gunahon Ke Raste (1970) #Heer Raanjha (1970) #Truck Driver (1970) #Khandan De Ohle (1970) unjabi#Ek Din Aadhi Raat (1971) # Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong (1971) #Ladki Pasand Hai (1971) # Shri Krishna Leela (1971) #Kanch Aur Heera (1972) #Chattan Singh (1974) # Hamrahi (1974) # Aaja Sanam (1975) #Anokha (1975) #Do Thug (1975) # Jaan Hazir Hai (1975) # Uljhan (1975) #Zorro (1975) #Farishta Ya Qatil (1977) # Atithee (1978) # Besharam (1978) #Kal Subah (1978) #Nasbandi (1978) #Khanjar (1980) #Mera Salaam (1981) #Pyar Ke Rahi (1982) #Pyar Bada Nadan (1984) #Rahemdil Jallad (1985) #Sone Ka Pinjara (1986) #Saat Ladkiyaan (1989) #'' Aakhri Chetawani'' (1993) #Pardesi (1993)

References

External links

Official website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Timothy, Usha Living people Bollywood playback singers Indian women playback singers Musicians from Nagpur 20th-century Indian singers 20th-century Indian women singers Singers from Maharashtra Women musicians from Maharashtra 21st-century Indian women singers 21st-century Indian singers 1948 births