Legendary is an adjective that has often and deservedly been applied to Usha Uthup. Ushaji with her golden voice is one of the most enamored singers in the country, who recently was bestowed with the prestigious Padma Bhushan. Known for singing in numerous languages, for her fashion style and of course her sellout concerts, the septuagenarian visits the metropolis for a charity concert on Saturday 10^th May 2025 at the Dublin Square, Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla, Mumbai, in support of Parent’s Association Thalassemic Unit Trust, an NGO that supports people affected by Leprosy.

Verus Ferreira spoke with the 76 year old singer in April last year and talks about her being conferred with the Padma Bhushan, meeting Mick Jagger, musical collaborations and lots more.

Congratulations Ushaji on being conferred with the Padma Bhushan on Republic Day last year. How does it feel to receive the highest civilian award in the country?

Thank you so much. What can I tell you? It's such a fantastic feeling.I was on my way from Pune to Bombay to catch a flight to Calcutta when I heard about the news. I got a call from Delhi and at first I thought it was a joke. I even asked the person whether he was really giving me this award or not. When he confirmed it to me, I started crying. I've always said, if I were a classical singer, then it would have been normal to get an award like this, but someone who's believed in music and the brotherhood of man, the fact that music unites everybody all the time, and singing middle of the road music for people, common people like you and me, I think that's what makes it (this award) so special.

You have completed over 54 years in the music business, what would you say was the turning point in your illustrious career?

I've always said, music is not my business, communication is. Every day is a turning point in my career because I always keep getting a new kind of a vibe every time I reinvent a song, an old song, or add to my repertoire of languages. When I talk to the audience, or when I made them sing along with me, I think that really became the turning point, because then I realized that they really do relate to everything that I'm saying and doing on stage.

Your son Sunny was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2015 and needs dialysis daily, how do you cope with this personally and emotionally?

It's tough. We all have certain crosses to bear in our life and it's not easy. But when I think about it, I really feel that God has been very kind to us and things could have been much worse. When I think about all that, I think it is easy to cope. If you want to look for the bad things, you can find so much of negativity all around you, but if you really want to be positive, take it in your stride and be grateful for whatever God has given you. I realized that if you really believe in a supreme force that is ruling your life, things will work out for you for sure.

In November 2024 you met and jammed with Rolling Stone Mick Jagger. We’re curious to hear your comments as a legend from India meeting with another legend from the western music world.

Oh, it was absolutely marvelous meeting up with Mick Jagger as I've been singing his songs for so many years. I was the one who told people that he's coming for the cricket match. It was absolutely marvelous and magical meeting up with Mick (Jagger). When I met him, I don't think he realized how many fans he has in India. Most people don't realize that. When I sang his song Satisfaction along with him, he couldn't believe that I knew the song. So we had a lovely time. It was great meeting of two worlds, where music brought us together.

On that note, we also hear that you love the music of Miley Cyrus and even sang her recent Grammy winning song Flowers at a family function.

So actually it all started when my granddaughter, Aisha, asked me to sing Adele’s Skyfall. I liked the song because it had all the vocal range. As for Flowers, my daughter sang Flowers and then she asked me to sing it. I just love the song as it’s such a positive song that many people would think it's a breakup song. Actually, it's not. I think it's to tell women power that why do we depend on everybody else to do things for us. I think we should learn to buy myself (our self) flowers and don't depend on everybody to make you feel happy all the time. So you can imagine the generations singing this. That's the best way to reinvent and rediscover the kind of music that you really want to sing and stay relevant.

Is there any international artist you would want to collaborate with or ever dreamt of collaborating with?

I would love to sing with any international artist and it would be wonderful if I got an opportunity to perform with any of them. But it was my dream really to at least meet up and be with Harry Belafonte. It would have been so marvelous.  I would also love to collaborate with Michael Bublé, maybe Eric Clapton, Santana and Gloria Estefan.

On the other hand which current Bollywood music directors you would like to collaborate with?

I'd love to sing with anybody who wants to make a song for me. I think it would be marvelous if I could do something for AR Rahman one more time, or for Ilyaraja, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya (Ghosal), Sunidhi (Chauhan), Arijit, the list goes on. We would be totally different in our genres of music, but it would be marvelous.

How have you managed work-life balance all these years?

I think it's like nurses, architects, doctors, teachers, lawyers, they all have commitments which they have to keep and I keep my commitments, I tried at least for as much as I could. I love my work and so it makes me feel really good about doing it. So I think it's a balance that you have to keep and work out for yourself. I know people think that it's easier said than done, but actually all women or men, all working people have the same kind of problems, highs and lows, but it doesn't matter. If you really love your work and if you really want to do it and you have to do it, do it with a smile. It’s difficult sometimes, you have to miss out something that you love for something that you have to do, but that's in any profession.  The best way to do it is don't let one interfere with the other.

Five musicians whose fashion you admire?

Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Barbara Streisand, Nancy Wilson, I think she was fabulous in her fashion without meaning to be fashionable. I think when it comes naturally the way you dress, I think it becomes a style statement.

Favorite city to perform in –

Every city that wants me to perform there, so if Bombay wants me to perform there, it's my favorite city.

Favorite comfort food –

Dahi Bhat, curd rice

If not wearing sari, what attire would you choose –

For traveling, I probably choose Salwar Kameez, but for the stage there's nothing better than the sari.

Favorite music genre you listen to for unwinding –

People music and by that I mean, what people love, Usha loves. But otherwise its Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, Jamiroquai and a lot of Indian artists, Anup Jalota, Suresh Wadkar, Shreya (Ghosal), Sunidhi (Chauhan), Sonu (Nigam), Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan. They're wonderful singers.

Event: Usha Uthup – Live

Date: Saturday, 10^th May 2025

Time: 7 pm

Venue: Dublin Square, Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla, Mumbai

Photos: Courtesy of the Artist