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
''Himalay Ki God Mein'' () is a 1965 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Vijay Bhatt starring Manoj Kumar and Mala Sinha, with Shashikala in a supporting role. The film won the Filmfare Best Movie Award and was a "Superhit" at the box offic ...
(1965). She has sung 5,000 songs in multiple Indian languages such as
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
,
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...
Bhojpuri
Bhojpuri (;Bhojpuri entry, Oxford Dictionaries , Oxford U ...
and
Marathi
Marathi may refer to:
*Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra, India
*Marathi language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people
*Palaiosouda, also known as Marathi, a small island in Greece
See also
*
* ...
etc.
Early life
Usha Timothy was born in
Nagpur
Nagpur (pronunciation: Help:IPA/Marathi, aːɡpuːɾ is the third largest city and the winter capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the 13th largest city in India by population and according to an Oxford's Economics report, Nag ...
,
Maharashtra
Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...
, 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 by ...
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, dra ...
s from
Nirmala Devi
Nirmala Devi, also known as Nirmala Arun (7 June 1927 15 June 1996), was an Indian actress in the 1940s and a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Patiala Gharana. She is the mother of Bollywood actor Govinda.
Nirmala Devi was the wife of t ...
.
Career
Usha was discovered by
Kalyanji Anandji
Kalyanji Virji Shah (30 June 1928 – 24 August 2000) was the ''Kalyanji'' of the Kalyanji-Anandji duo. He and his brother Anandji Virji Shah have been famous Indian film musicians, and won the 1975 Filmfare Award for Best Music Director, f ...
. 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 and musician. 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 ...
,
Manna Dey
Prabodh Chandra Dey (May 1, 1919 − October 24, 2013), known by his stage name Manna Dey, was an internationally acclaimed and celebrated Indian playback singer, music director, and a musician. As a classical vocalist, he belonged to the Bhen ...
,
Hemant Kumar
Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (16 June 1920 – 26 September 1989), known professionally as Hemant Kumar and Hemanta Mukherjee, was a legendary Indian music composer and playback singer who primarily sang in Bengali and Hindi, as well as other Indian ...
,
Mukesh Mukesh is an epithet for the Hindu god Shiva, and literally means "conqueror of the Muka demon". It also means god of 3 worlds, heaven, hell & earth, which in turn represents Hindu god Shiva. It is commonly used as a male given name in India. Peopl ...
performed songs composed by
Kalyanji Anandji
Kalyanji Virji Shah (30 June 1928 – 24 August 2000) was the ''Kalyanji'' of the Kalyanji-Anandji duo. He and his brother Anandji Virji Shah have been famous Indian film musicians, and won the 1975 Filmfare Award for Best Music Director, f ...
. 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
''Himalay Ki God Mein'' () is a 1965 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Vijay Bhatt starring Manoj Kumar and Mala Sinha, with Shashikala in a supporting role. The film won the Filmfare Best Movie Award and was a "Superhit" at the box offic ...
(1965). In that film, her duet with
Mohammed Rafi
Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian playback singer and musician. 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 ...
"Tu Chhat Pe Khadi Thi" was well received, but many thought it to be Asha Bhosle's voice. 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
''Himalay Ki God Mein'' () is a 1965 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Vijay Bhatt starring Manoj Kumar and Mala Sinha, with Shashikala in a supporting role. The film won the Filmfare Best Movie Award and was a "Superhit" at the box offic ...
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
Hansraj Behl (19 November 1916 – 20 May 1984) was an Indian music composer, who composed music both for Hindi and Punjabi films.
Early life and education
Born in Ambala, British Punjab, Hansraj received his early education in music from ...
S. Mohinder
Bakshi Mohinder Singh Sarna (24 February 1925 – 6 September 2020), known professionally as S. Mohinder, was an Indian music composer.
Early life
He was born in Sillanwali Tehsil, Sargodha District in 1925. Mohinder’s father Bakhsi Sujan ...
,
Sardar Malik
Sardar Malik (13 January 1930 – 27 January 2006) was an Indian Hindi film music director and score composer.
Early life and career
Sardar Malik was born on 13 January 1930 in Kapurthala, Punjab, British India. He first was a student at Uday ...
,
Usha Khanna
Usha Khanna (born 7 October 1941) is an Indian music director in Hindi cinema. She is the third female music director to enter the Hindi film industry, after Jaddan Bai and Saraswati Devi and is one of the most commercially successful music di ...
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
Mukesh Mukesh is an epithet for the Hindu god Shiva, and literally means "conqueror of the Muka demon". It also means god of 3 worlds, heaven, hell & earth, which in turn represents Hindu god Shiva. It is commonly used as a male given name in India. Peopl ...
,
Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar (born as Abhas Kumar Ganguly (); 4 August 1929 – 13 October 1987) was an Indian playback singer and actor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest, most influential and dynamic singers in the history of Indian music.
He ...
,
Shamshad Begum
Shamshad Begum (Hindi: शमशाद बेगम, 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 ...
,
Suman Kalyanpur
Suman Kalyanpur (born as Suman Hemmadi;January 28th 1937) is an Indian playback singer, one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India.
Her voice was often mistaken to be that of Lata Mangeshkar. Suman Kalyanpur's career st ...
, 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
Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar (12 January 1918 – 5 January 1982), also known as C. Ramchandra or Chitalkar or Anna Sahib, was an Indian music director and playback singer.
Filmography
List of Hindi films:
#Durga Puja (1962)
#Birju Uystad (1964)
#Maharani Padmini (1964)
#Char Chakram (1965)
#
Himalay Ki Godmein
''Himalay Ki God Mein'' () is a 1965 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Vijay Bhatt starring Manoj Kumar and Mala Sinha, with Shashikala in a supporting role. The film won the Filmfare Best Movie Award and was a "Superhit" at the box offic ...
(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 Acharya
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 twis ...
(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
''Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong'' is a 1971 Bollywood comedy film directed by S.A. Akbar. The film stars Mehmood and I. S. Johar. Its part of a comedy series that included Johar-Mehmood in Goa (1965), Johar in Kashmir (1966) and Johar in Bombay (19 ...
(1971)
#Ladki Pasand Hai (1971)
#
Shri Krishna Leela
''Shri Krishna Leela'' is a 1971 Hindi religious film directed by Homi Wadia. It was produced by his Basant Pictures banner. Written by B. M. Vyas, the story and dialogue were by S. N. Tripathi. The music was composed by S. N. Tripathi and ha ...
Aaja Sanam
''Aaja Sanam'' is a 1968 Bollywood film directed by Yusuf Naqvi. The film stars Feroz Khan, Tanuja and Deven Verma. The film's music is by Usha Khanna and the lyrics by Indeevar.
Cast
* Feroz Khan ... Dr. Satish
* Tanuja ... Shanti
* Deven V ...
(1975)
#Anokha (1975)
#Do Thug (1975)
# Jaan Hazir Hai (1975)
#
Uljhan
''Uljhan'' (Confusion) is a 1975 Hindi suspense thriller film. Produced by Sudesh Kumar and directed by Raghunath Jhalani, it stars Ashok Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Asrani, Farida Jalal, Aruna Irani, Sulakshana Pandit, and Ranjeet. The music is by K ...
(1975)
#Zorro (1975)
#Farishta Ya Qatil (1977)
#
Atithee
''Atithee'' is a 1978 Bollywood romantic drama film directed by Aravind Sen. The film stars Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha. The movie was based on the 1971 Bengali movie ''Ekhane Pinjar''.
Cast
* Shashi Kapoor as Anand
* Shabana Azmi as Leel ...