Time doesn't heal anything, it gives you strength to carry weight: Usha Uthup

Legendary singer Usha Uthup reflects on her extraordinary 57-year journey in a candid conversation with India Today, touching on music, loss, love, and resilience. Instantly recognizable for her Kanjivaram sarees and bold bindis, she recalls her early days singing in iconic nightclubs like Trincas and Nine Gems in Madras and Kolkata. Uthup opens up about her deep romance with her late husband Jani Chacko and the recent grief of losing her brother, Shamu.

She speaks about the irony of being typecast as the "bad girl" in films due to her powerful "black voice," despite her traditional image. Fluent in 25 languages, she recounts her success as a jingle queen, collaborations with Bappi Lahiri, and performances for legends, affirming that audience applause remains her greatest high.