Usha Timothy

Hindi film playback singer from Nagpur. She first sang on stage at eight, beside Mohammed Rafi. More than a thousand songs later, she is still singing, and still telling the stories behind them.

Her life in five chapters

Usha Timothy in a cream and red saree singing on a stage, with a screen reading Euphonix 25th Grand Musical Show, Dhinaa Dhinn Dhaa — Then At the microphone with Mohammed Rafi

Usha Timothy at the microphone on stage, Mohammed Rafi at the harmonium beside her — Then At the microphone with Mohammed Rafi

A life in five chapters

Each chapter brings together a song, one of her own memories and a photograph from the family album. Everything plays here, so you can keep reading.

Read the full story

Usha Timothy in a yellow saree seated beside a large black and white print of an old photograph — Today, with an enlarged print of an old studio photograph.

साSa

About 1956Nagpur

Sent on in the interval

At a Kalyanji Anandji night with Rafi, Mukesh, Manna Dey and Hemant Kumar on the bill, there was no female singer. The organiser, Madhusudan, put her forward. The composers said she was too young, so she was sent on during the interval. She sang "Rasik Balma", the hall asked for more, and she joined their stage shows.

Her memory

Black and white photograph of Usha Timothy at a microphone on stage, with Mohammed Rafi at the harmonium and a saxophone player behind — With Mohammed Rafi at the harmonium.

रेRe

1965Bombay

"There will be a lion in front of you"

That was Kalyanji Anandji's warning before her first released film song, a duet with Mohammed Rafi. She told them the lion was her own: she had sung beside him on stage since she was eight. At the microphone her nerves took over anyway, until Rafi patted her head and told her she would sing well.

The song Tu Raat Khadi Thi Himalay Ki God Mein · 1965 · with Mohammed Rafi Search on YouTube

Her memory

Black and white photograph of Usha Timothy singing on stage beside Mukesh at the harmonium, with an accordion player — On stage with Mukesh at the harmonium.

गGa

1960s to 1980On tour

Studios by day, stage shows by night

She recorded hundreds of songs for Kalyanji Anandji and toured with the troupes of Rafi, Mukesh and C. Ramchandra, as far as Holland. She sang with Rafi for more than twenty years, until his last shows in 1980.

The song Meri Jaan Tumse Mohabbat Hai Mera Salaam · 1981 · with Mohammed Rafi Watch on YouTube

Her memory

Usha Timothy in a red saree singing into a microphone on stage beside a male singer — A stage duet.

मMa

1970sRecording studios

Duets in many languages

Beyond Rafi she sang with Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, Mahendra Kapoor, Asha Bhosle and Suman Kalyanpur, in Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Rajasthani and Malayalam. She has never counted, but it comes to more than a thousand songs.

The song Are Rafta Rafta Dekho Kahani Kismat Ki · 1973 · with Kishore Kumar Search on YouTube

Her memory

Usha Timothy in an orange and yellow saree singing on a lit stage — In concert.

पPa

TodayMumbai

Still singing

She performs at concerts and on television, sings her own devotional songs, and tells the stories behind the old ones on her channel, Yaadein Suhani. She received a Sakha Award in New Delhi in 1991 and the Mohammed Rafi Award in Mumbai in 2018.

The song Qurbani Prabhu Yeshu Ki Her own devotional song

Her memory

तू रात खड़ी थीअरे रफ़्ता रफ़्ता देखोजब जब बहार आईमेरी जान तुमसे मोहब्बत हैपापा जल्दी आ जानानैन से नैन मिलादिलवालों से प्यार कर लोहोंठों पे इनकार थोड़ा थोड़ाऐ सपनों के राजाकाली काली ज़ुल्फ़ों मेंहोनोलूलू से आई हूँ मैंतक़दीर ने क्या अंगड़ाई लीलंदन पेरिस घूम के देखेंजो मामा मेरा आएगामैं हूँ सामने तू मेरे सामनेहो बैरी सैयां की नज़रियानटखट परे हट छोड़ढोल बजा ढोलजा पोरी जाचंबे दी डालियेक़ुर्बानी प्रभु येसु कीतू रात खड़ी थीअरे रफ़्ता रफ़्ता देखोजब जब बहार आईमेरी जान तुमसे मोहब्बत हैपापा जल्दी आ जानानैन से नैन मिलादिलवालों से प्यार कर लोहोंठों पे इनकार थोड़ा थोड़ाऐ सपनों के राजाकाली काली ज़ुल्फ़ों मेंहोनोलूलू से आई हूँ मैंतक़दीर ने क्या अंगड़ाई लीलंदन पेरिस घूम के देखेंजो मामा मेरा आएगामैं हूँ सामने तू मेरे सामनेहो बैरी सैयां की नज़रियानटखट परे हट छोड़ढोल बजा ढोलजा पोरी जाचंबे दी डालियेक़ुर्बानी प्रभु येसु की