Long before Bruno Mars stormed the charts with 24K Magic, the title 24 Carats already belonged to Indian singer Usha Uthup. 

In 1981, she released a brilliant disco album under that name, packed with Hindi-language cover versions of international classics. The Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, Boney M, Gloria Gaynor, even Donna Summer’s Hot Stuff – all wrapped in a Bollywood disco-funk sari, made for the dance floor.

And who is Usha Uthup? A legend. Born Usha Iyer, with a deep, smoky voice, glittering saris, and more than five decades of stage presence, she is considered the Queen of Indian Pop & Disco – an icon who shaped the sound of clubs from Kolkata to Bombay.