Uma was born in Bangalore. She initially worked as a classical musician, before transitioning to amateur theatre during the 1970s. She appeared in more than 30 plays and theatre productions, according to Sreenivas G. Kappanna, who called her ‛an elder sister of theatre.’ Her most famous role included the satirical play, Muhammad bin Tughluq, in which she played the title character Tughluq's stepmother.
