Singer and Padma Bhushan awardee Usha Uthup’s husband Jani Chacko died on Monday. He suffered a heart attack at his residence in Kolkata and is survived by Usha, their son and daughter. It is interesting how Usha and Jani met in 1969 at Trincas, a Kolkata nightclub where Usha was performing. (Also Read: Usha Uthup’s Husband Jani Chacko Dies Of Heart Attack In Kolkata)
How did Usha and Jani meet?
The twist in the tale is that Usha Uthup was already married to Ramu. According to Vikas Kumar Jha’s 2022 book The Queen of Indian Pop: The Authorised Biography of Usha Uthup, her then-husband had accompanied her to Kolkata, where she was contracted to perform at Trinkas. He first saw Jani at a nearby table while she was singing Harp Albert’s A Taste of Honey.
She then saw Ramu and Jani talking to each other, which relieved her as she was happy that her husband had found a partner in Kolkata. The next day, Jani invited Ramu for a meal. Later that evening, when Usha was performing again at Trinkas, she was able to see only Jani while Ramu was absent. After the show, Jani approached Usha and offered to drop her home. She agreed, although the two did not speak to each other during the short trip.
Usha’s confession
According to the book, this is what happened when Usha reached home: “Usha knocked on the door and Ramu opened it. Usha’s face turned pale when she saw Jani standing behind her. As soon as Usha got in, Ramu said to Jani Uthup, who was standing at the door, ‘That’s enough Mr Uthup! You can go.’ Usha could not understand Ramu’s impatience. What had happened to her husband who was usually so calm? Ramu slammed the door shut.”
Usha, sensing Ramu’s uneasiness, asked him what had happened. According to the book, “He screamed and broke down. ‘Do you know what Jani Uthup said to me this afternoon at the Chinese restaurant? He said, ‘I don’t know about Usha and her feelings, but I love your wife.’ Ramu was shaking with anger as he said this. ‘Well, he said that to you. So what?’ Usha said in a soft voice. ‘He didn’t say anything to me.’ ‘But what Jani said…is it true? Do you have the same feelings for her too?’ Ramu’s voice was distraught. ‘Yes!’ Usha replied, casting aside all her fear.
Ramu did not like Usha’s confession. He threw the plate against the wall. Usha cried all night. Over the next few weeks, Ramu became increasingly distant from her and even stopped accompanying her to her shows. Usha felt that her five years of marriage were “filled with sadness”, so she slowly decided to separate from Ramu and marry Jani Chacko.
