Usha Uthup recalls forced exit from choir class

Celebrated singer Usha Uthup in her recently released biography ‘Queen of Indian Pop’ revealed that her music teacher did not consider her a talented one and kicked her out of choir class.

In an interview, Usha Uthup said she never had the opportunity to learn.

She even wished that she had learned sight-reading or notation. “My music teacher didn’t think I was good for music, and so she put me out of the choir class, which was quite unbelievable,” she said.

The situation changed with time and her music teacher was among the audience when she performed years later. They both cried with joy.

Usha Uthup said regrets did not pull her down rather motivated her to do better. She also stated that she likes to be known as a “100% original singer,” rather than a “good or bad singer.”

Usha Uthup, who describes herself as a “non-controversial person,” also spoke out about a politician who tried to prevent her from singing.

“It was overwhelming to think that an ordinary person like me, who is very down to earth like the girl next door and not fitting into the image of a nightclub singer, would have people ban her! My God, for what,” she told The Indian Express.

The English translation of pop icon Usha Uthup’s biography “Ullas Ki Naav” came out on February 28. Author Vikas Kumar Jha’s daughter Srishti Jha has translated the book. The English title, “The Queen of Indian Pop: The Authorised Biography of Usha Uthup,” is published by Penguin Random House India.

Usha Uthup, celebrated her 50th anniversary as a professional singer in 2020, is well known for songs like “Hari Om Hari,” “Rambha Ho,” and “Jeete Hain Shaan Se.” She has performed in Bengali, Hindi, English, German, Italian, and Sinhalese, among other Indian and foreign languages