Usha Uthup: 'Disco never dies'

Usha Uthup

The last time this writer met Usha Uthup, the artiste was on a stage at a Dehradun school, which was the venue for a festival. While the organisers tried to close the show by 9 pm, Uthup, ever the rebel, asked the gathered bunch of raucous kids, "You don't want to go to bed early, do you?" before singing Maria Pitache. It typified the mischief, magic, and style that defined her.

This weekend, the 78-year-old will return to the city for a unique Disco mehfil by IBTIDA-Ek Mehfil at Lower Parel. Ahead of her performance, we speak to the Padma Bhushan-awardee on bringing Disco back.

Usha Uthup (right) regales the audience during a session

Excerpts from the interview.

Welcome back to Mumbai. How has it been this year?
This city has a buzz about it, as does the audience. There is an excitement; also it is changing all the time. Mumbai is proof that where there is life there is change [laughs].

What does the term Disco mean to you?
For me, every song is Disco. I sing it that way. I would say Boney M was a favourite of mine, and captured the energy of Disco perfectly. Today, retro is where it's at. The new generation is taking the old classics and approaching them with a new energy.

This session is a contrast to the intimate baithaks IBTIDA is known for. How do you approach that?
They [IBTIDA-Ek Mehfil] have changed the concept a little, to go from soft, slow music to Disco. The audience already knows what I am going to sing in any case, but the context makes it quite interesting.

In that case, can we get a sneak peek of your playlist?
There are some songs in my repertoire that define the city. One of them is Jambalaya. Right now, the more popular choice is Skyfall. My song to pick would be the title track of Shaan or Koi Yahaan Nache Nache from Disco Dancer. Of course, Ramba Ho has got a second lease of life with Dhurandhar. So, Disco never dies, really.

Moving differently

The choice of Disco is definitely a move away from the original idea of IBTIDA-Ek Mehfil founders Tanvi Singh Bhatia and Anubhav Jain. "We did debate it, but the idea remains to bring back the nostalgia of the past," shares Jain. Bhatia adds, "We wanted to bring in that freedom to move. Disco is that yearning to be yourself, and free."

With a focus on music, movement, food, and culture, this is a step in a different direction while retaining the intimate nature. "We also have a vinyl listening experience that taps into the archival collections of Reggae and Disco classics," Jain points out.

Usha Uthup's jam

>> Jambalaya
>> Skyfall
>> Bombay Meri Hai
>> Rambha Ho
>> Shaan Se
>> Koi Yahaan Nache Nache

ON September 12; 8 pm onwards
AT The Quorum, One World Center, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel.
LOG ON TO district.in