Usha Timothy

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. She has sung 5,000 songs in multiple Indian languages such as Hindi, Malayalam, Punjabi, Bhojpuri and Marathi etc.

Early life Usha Timothy was born in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India in a Christian family. Her father worked for the CBI. "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 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, S.N. Tripathi, S. Mohinder, Sardar Malik, Usha Khanna, Sonik-Omi, Babul, Lala Sattar and Jagdish Khanna.

Mohammed Rafi 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, Kishore Kumar, Shamshad Begum, Suman Kalyanpur, 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 also. She says, "I used to be part of his shows regularly. In fact, the famous Pradeep song, 'Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon' was initially sung as a duet by me with C. Ramchandra sahab for a show." Durga Puja (1962) Birju Uystad (1964) Maharani Padmini (1964) Char Chakram (1965) Himalay Ki God Mein (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 (1969) Nateeja (1969) Raat Ke Andhere Mein (1969) Vishwas (1969) Gunahon Ke Raste (1970) Heer Raanjha (1970) Truck Driver (1970) Khandan De Ohle (1970) [Punjabi] Ek Din Aadhi Raat (1971) Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong (1971) Ladki Pasand Hai (1971) Shri Krishna Leela (1971) Kanch Aur Heera (1972) Chattan Singh (1974) Hamrahi (1974) Aaja Sanam (1975) Anokha (1975) Do Thug (1975) Jaan Hazir Hai (1975) Uljhan (1975) Zorro (1975) Farishta Ya Qatil (1977) Atithee (1978) Besharam (1978) Kal Subah (1978) Nasbandi (1978) Khanjar (1980) Mera Salaam (1981) Pyar Ke Rahi (1982) Pyar Bada Nadan (1984) Rahemdil Jallad (1985) Sone Ka Pinjara (1986) Saat Ladkiyaan (1989) Aakhri Chetawani (1993) Pardesi (1993)