Usha (born 29 May 1980) is an Indian singer who works predominantly in Telugu. She has sung in Kannada and Tamil also. In a career spanning about 10 years, she has established herself as one of the leading playback singers in the Telugu film industry and has worked with many major music directors.

Career

Music competitions

Usha began her singing career with "Paadutha Teeyaga", a music based program on Eenadu Television hosted by singer SP Balasubramanyam. She stood first in the competition and later followed up by winning another music contest titled "Navaragam" on Gemini TV.

Usha participated in various music-related shows on TV between 1996 and 2000. Her performance in "Endaro Mahanubhavlu" on Gemini TV won her appreciation and applause from the audience. She later participated in "Meri Awaz Suno" on Star TV and was one of the finalists in the All-India finals. She also participated in various Hindi programs on channels like ELTV and Zee TV.

Movie career

Usha got her maiden opportunity from Sri. Vandemataram Srinivas, renowned music director. Her first song was from the movie Illalu. She got her major break in Telugu film industry in 2000. She sang various chart busters for Telugu movies like Indra, Chiruta, Athidhi, Pourudu, Varsham, Bhadra, Chitram, Nuvvu Nenu, Manasantha Nuvve, Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu, Jayam, Santhosham, Nee Sneham, Avunanna Kadanna and many more (for complete filmography, please see the section below).

Concerts

Usha has performed in close to 150 concerts worldwide. Apart from her own solo concerts, she has performed alongside legendary singers and musicians like Sri. SP Balasubramanyam, Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan, Mani Sharma, P. Suseela and Mano among many others. Her biggest achievement was performing with Sri. SP Balasubramanyam at the Afro-Asian Games opening ceremony in 2003 in Hyderabad.

TV Programmes

• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Little Champs (Zee Telugu) - 2007
• Swaraneerajanam (Zee Telugu) - 2008
• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Nuvva Nena (Zee Telugu) - 2010
• Super Singer 7 (MAA TV ) - 2012
• Super Singer 10 (MAA TV)- 2019
• Super singer 2020 by vastavam

Awards

This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (January 2018)

Nandi Awards

• Best Female Playback Singer (TV Category) in 2006 for TV film song "Bommarillu Podarillu"
• Best Female Playback Singer in 2002 for "Chinuku Tadiki" song from Nee Sneham
• Best Female Playback Singer in 2001 for "Kallu Teravani" song from Padma

Filmography

Usha has recorded with music directors, such as Ilaiyaraaja, M. M. Keeravani, Koti, Mani Sharma, Vandemataram Srinivas, Devi Sri Prasad, Kamalakar, RP Patnaik, Chakri, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Ramana Gogula and others.

• Manorama (2009)
• Ee Vayasulo (2009)
• Junction (2008)
• Mr. Gireesam (2008)
• Sri Medaram Sammakka Sarakka Mahatyam (2008)
• Gunde Jhallumandi (2008)
• Pandurangadu (2008)
• Erra Samudram (2008)
• Pourudu (2008)
• Bhadradri (2008)
• Ontari (2008)
• Athidhi (2007)
• Bhayya (2007)
• Chiruta (2007)
• Aa Roje (2007)
• Kalyanam (2007)
• Manchukurise Velalo (2007)
• Missing (2007)
• Pulakintha (2006)
• Amma Meeda Ottu (2005)
• Avunanna Kaadanna (2005)
• Ayodhya (2005)
• Bhadra (2005)
• Dhairyam (2005)
• Evadi Gola Vaadidi (2005)
• Friendship (2005)
• Good Boy (2005)
• Guru (2005)
• Manchukurise Velalo (2005)
• Meenakshi (2005)
• Moguds Pellams (2005)
• Pellam Pitchodu (2005)
• Pourusham (2005)
• Sada Mee Sevalo (2005)
• Satti (2005)
• Shravana Masam (2005)
• Thakadimitha (2005)
• Venkat Tho Alivelu (2005)
• Aa Naluguru (2004)
• Aadi C/O ABN College (2004)
• Apuroopam (2004)
• Avunu Nijame (2004)
• Jai (2004)
• Koduku (2004)
• Maa Ilavelpu (2004)
• Nayudamma (2004)
• Preminchukunnam Pelliki Randi (2004)
• Sreenu C/O Anu (2004)
• Sreenu Vasanthi Laxmi (2004)
• Swamy (2004)
• Tapana (2004)
• Thanks (2004)
• Varsham (2004)
• Aadanthe Ado Type (2003)
• Aayudham (2003)
• Appudappudu (2003)
• Dil (2003)
• Fools (2003)
• Golmaal (2003)
• Janaki Weds Sriram (2003)
• Johnny (2003)
• Kaartik (2003)
• Kalyanam (2003)
• Maa Bapubommaku Pellanta (2003)
• Missamma (2003)
• Neeku Nenu Naaku Nuvvu (2003)
• Nijam (2003)
• Sambhu (2003)
• Aahuti (2002)
• Allari Ramudu (2002)
• Ammulu (2002)
• Andam (2002)
• Anveshna (2002)
• Chance (2002)
• Dhanush (2002)
• Eeswar (2002)
• Gemini (2002)
• Girl Friend (2002)
• Hai (2002)
• Indra (2002)
• Jayam (2002)
• Jenda (2002)
• Jodi No.1 (2002)
• Kubusam (2002)
• Manasundi...Ra! (2002)
• Memu (2002)
• Nee Premakai (2002)
• Nee Sneham (2002)
• Neethodu Kaavali (2002)
• Nenu Ninnu Premistunnanu (2002)
• Ninne Cherukunta (2002)
• Nuvve Nenu Nene Nuvvu (2002)
• Pellam Oorelithe (2002)
• Premante (2002)
• Prudhvi Narayana (2002)
• Santhosham (2002)
• Sreeram (2002)
• Toli Parichayam (2002)
• Vachinavaadu Suryudu (2002)
• Ammo Bomma (2001)
• Badrachalam (2001)
• Manasantha Nuvve (2001)
• Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu (2001)
• Nuvvu Nenu (2001)
• Premaku Swagatham (2001)
• Shivudu (2001)
• Takkari Donga (2001)
• Vechi Vunta (2001)
• Baachi (2000)
• Chitram (2000)
• Shubhavela (2000)
• Chantigadu
• Colours
• Pavan Subbalakshmi Preminchukunnarata
• Ramma ! Chilakamma
• Rowdi

Telugu Discography

External links

• Official Website
• Usha at IMDb
• Interview I
• Interview II
• Interview III
• Interview IV
• Video interview
• Discography I – II – III
• About Ilaiyaraaja
• Usha's Wedding
• Usharuga Audio Function
• Usha in Padalanivundi