About Usha Mangeshkar

Usha Mangeshkar was born on 15 December 1935 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. She is the daughter of renowned classical singer and theatre artist Deenanath Mangeshkar and Shevanti Mangeshkar. She grew up in the famous Mangeshkar family, surrounded by music from an early age.

Her siblings include legendary playback singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, singer and music director Hridaynath Mangeshkar, and singer Meena Khadikar.

Singing Career

Usha Mangeshkar began her playback singing career in the 1950s and subsequently recorded songs in numerous Indian languages. Her career has spanned more than seven decades.

She became particularly well known for her work in Marathi cinema, as well as Hindi playback and devotional music.

Her voice has appeared in films across different genres, ranging from devotional songs and traditional music to romantic and popular film compositions.

Breakthrough with Jai Santoshi Maa

One of the biggest turning points in Usha Mangeshkar's career came with the 1975 devotional film Jai Santoshi Maa.

Her devotional songs in the film became extremely popular after the movie became a major box-office success. She was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for “Main To Aarti� from the film.

The success of Jai Santoshi Maa established Usha Mangeshkar as one of the recognizable voices in Indian devotional film music.

Popular Songs

Some of Usha Mangeshkar's memorable songs include:

• Mungda — Inkaar
• Main To Aarti — Jai Santoshi Maa
• Aaya Mausam Dosti Ka — Maine Pyar Kiya
• Janu Meri Jaan — Shaan
• Goron Ki Na Kalon Ki — Disco Dancer
• Antakshari — Maine Pyar Kiya
• Sainath Tere Hazaron Haath — Shirdi Ke Sai Baba
• Ganesh Stotram
• *Sankat Mochan Hanumanashtak
• Gheuniya Pancharati & Aarti Sai Baba

“Mungda�

“Mungda� is one of Usha Mangeshkar's most famous songs. The song was originally featured in the Marathi film Pinjara, and its popularity helped make Usha one of the recognizable voices of Marathi film music.

The song remains one of the signature recordings associated with her career.

Marathi Music

Usha Mangeshkar has made a significant contribution to Marathi music and cinema. She recorded numerous Marathi songs and became closely associated with Marathi film music.

Her contribution to Marathi cinema was recognized with the Filmfare Marathi Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.

Devotional Music

Devotional music is an important part of Usha Mangeshkar's repertoire.

Her performance of devotional songs in Jai Santoshi Maa brought her widespread recognition. She has also recorded numerous devotional songs dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, Sai Baba and other Hindu deities.

Some of her devotional recordings include:

• Ganesh Stotram
• Sankat Mochan Hanumanashtak
• Aarti Shree Lakshmiji
• Sainath Tere Hazaron Haath
• Gheuniya Pancharati & Aarti Sai Baba

Work in Different Languages

Usha Mangeshkar's multilingual career includes recordings in:

• Hindi
• Marathi
• Bengali
• Gujarati
• Kannada
• Nepali
• Bhojpuri
• Odia
• Assamese
• Manipuri

Her ability to sing across regional languages contributed to her long and diverse career in Indian music.

Awards and Recognition

Usha Mangeshkar has received several honours during her career.

Major Recognition

• Filmfare Award nomination — Best Female Playback Singer for “Main To Aartiâ€� from Jai Santoshi Maa
• Filmfare Award nominations for other songs including “Mangta Hai To Aajaâ€� and “Humse Nazar To Milaoâ€�
• Mirchi Music Awards — Lifetime Achievement Award (2020)
• Lata Mangeshkar Award, Government of Maharashtra (2020)
• Filmfare Marathi Lifetime Achievement Award (2025)

Musical Style

Usha Mangeshkar is known for her:

• Devotional singing
• Marathi playback singing
• Hindi film songs
• Folk-influenced music
• Traditional Indian music
• Multilingual singing
• Soft and expressive vocals

Her devotional recordings and Marathi film songs remain particularly important parts of her musical legacy.

Contribution to Indian Music

Usha Mangeshkar has contributed to Indian playback music for more than seven decades. While her sisters Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle achieved extraordinary fame in Hindi cinema, Usha established her own identity through Marathi cinema, devotional music, Hindi playback singing and regional-language recordings.

Her songs from Jai Santoshi Maa, Pinjara, Maine Pyar Kiya, Shaan and other films remain popular among music lovers. Her catalogue also continues to be available through modern music platforms, with new compilations and releases appearing in 2025 and 2026.

Birth Details

Full Name: Usha Mangeshkar
Profession: Playback Singer
Date of Birth: 15 December 1935
Birth Place: Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
Nationality: Indian
Years Active: 1954–present