Shankar Mahadevan taught me how to sing Ganesh Vandana right: Usha Uthup

Trust Usha Uthup to turn an airport lesson from Shankar Mahadevan into a show-stopping moment at the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF). The iconic singer surprised the audience at Allen Park on January 10 with a soulful rendition of Ganesh Vandana—a far cry from her usual jazz and pop repertoire.
“I never imagined I’d sing Ganesh Vandana,” Uthup confessed with a smile.

“I was at the airport, struggling with a few lines, and Shankar Mahadevan stepped in to help me nail it. I was nervous, thinking, ‘Is this even my kind of song?’ But here I am, singing it for you all today.”
True to her dynamic style, Uthup soon switched gears, belting out the title track of Skyfall and Stevie Wonder’s I Just Called to Say I Love You. “Now, these are the songs everyone expects me to sing,” she joked, winning over the crowd with her trademark wit and charisma.
Actor-singer Ila Arun, seated in the audience, added to the electric atmosphere by cheering Uthup on and singing along with infectious energy.
The 16th edition of AKLF, which opened with Uthup’s powerhouse performance, promises to keep the bar high with a mix of literature, culture, and music in the days ahead.