’I am like a tennis ball’

Says singer Usha Uthup who would be in town this Friday to celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi through a live performanceIt has been a long journey foru00a0 Usha Uthup. Known for her unique deep voice, Uthup has stolen many hearts with songs like Hare Ram Hare Krishna and Shan Se among others and this weekend you can catch her live at The 49th Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava. Theu00a0 Padmashreeu00a0 winning performer, who can sing in 18 Indian languages and eight foreign ones, tells The Guide what makes her come back to Bangalore again and again. How did your musical journey begin?I was born in a middle-class family and my father used to be in Mumbai police. I was the fifth of the six children. They say number five is lucky and thank god it worked for me. At school I used to be thrown out of the music class because my teacher thought my voice was flat and I would be given clappers or triangles to play. But soon she realised that I was musically inclined. My sisters Indira and Uma were professional singers. Those days radio was the king and I grew up listening to Vividh Bharati and BBC. I did not have any formal training. What was the turning point in your career?I went with my aunt for dinner once to a night club in Chennai. A band was playing there and my aunt asked me to get up and sing. I did and then was offered to sing there for one week at the end of which I was given a Kanjeevaram saree. Later, when I was performing at Delhi Intercontinental Hotel, I was approached by Dev Anand's production house and Hare Rama hare Krishna happened. Your voice was different from the playback singers of those days. Was it a struggle to find a platform?I am a compulsive optimist. I am like a tennis ball, the harder your drop me, the more I bounce back. I never claimed I am a good singer but I am an original one. There have been ups and downs but it is not a sad love story. What are the challenges of a live performance?I am a live artist and love the stage. Once I am on stage, I give unashamedly and hold nothing back. Every minute on stage is a challenge. There can be nothing greater than hearing the audiences applaud. What is in store for the Bangalore concert?This city is special to me.u00a0 I used to sing at hotel Bangalore International long ago. It is amazing to come back and see how the city changes every week and month. I have been to the Ganesha Festival. The crowd is giving and they go crazy when I sing Kannada songs. Other than my popular songs, I will definitely sing darling from Saat Khoon Maaf. Where APS College Grounds, BasavanagudiOn September 2, 6.30 pm onwardsLog onto: www.bgu.co.in 5 Things we bet you didn't know about Usha Uthup1.u00a0Fears flying, darknessu00a0andu00a0 water 2. u00a0Bites her nails3. u00a0Cannot say no4. u00a0Loved it when someone u00a0from the audience said u00a0u00a0that they find peace u00a0u00a0and happiness when u00a0u00a0they hear her sing5.u00a0Windmills of your u00a0u00a0mind, humein tumse u00a0u00a0pyar kitna, Jidhar u00a0u00a0Dekhoon are her three u00a0u00a0all time favourites

'I am like a tennis ball'

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