26 July,2026 11:20 PM IST | Mumbai | Shruti Sampat
Shreya Ghoshal and Jyotirmayee Nayak (Picture via Special Arrangement)
After months of soulful performances, fierce competition, and memorable musical moments, Indian Idol Season 16 has found its winner. Hailing from Odisha, Jyotirmayee Nayak lifted the coveted trophy after impressing judges and audiences with her stunning rendition of Saiyaan O Saiyaan in the grand finale. She emerged victorious over fellow finalists Anshika Chonkar, Manraj Veer Singh, Myscmme Bosu, Suhail Sufi, and Tanishk Shukla, marking the beginning of a promising new chapter in her musical career.
In an exclusive conversation with mid-day, the newly crowned winner reflected on the emotional moment of lifting the trophy and creating history as the first contestant from Odisha to win the singing reality show.
"It was an overwhelming moment. Being the first Odia girl to win the title of Indian Idol makes me incredibly happy and proud. This was something I had manifested for a long time, and seeing that dream finally come true felt surreal. At that moment, I just felt immense gratitude for everyone who believed in me and supported me throughout my journey."
While the finale celebrated her victory, Jyotirmayee revealed that her journey on the show was far from easy. One of the toughest moments came during the Theatre Round when she unexpectedly lost her voice, leaving her uncertain about her future in the competition.
"The most challenging moment for me was during the Theatre Round when I lost my voice. I was exhausted and kept wondering how I would perform. As singers, we have two vocal registers, and despite losing my voice, I decided to sing using my chest voice. I was originally supposed to perform a different song, but at the last moment I chose 'O Soniya' instead, and that eventually became my winning song as well."
She believes the difficult phase became a turning point in her journey, teaching her the importance of faith and self-belief.
"I believe it all happened because of my faith in God and my belief in myself. That experience taught me that if you have faith and trust yourself, everything is possible."
Now that she has fulfilled her dream of winning Indian Idol, Jyotirmayee is looking ahead to the artists she hopes to work with in the future. She named some of the biggest names in the music industry as her dream collaborators.
"I would love to work with A.R. Rahman sir, as his music is timeless and truly inspiring. I would also love to collaborate with Vishal Dadlani sir and Shreya Ghoshal ma'am because I've learnt so much from them during my journey on Indian Idol. It would be a dream come true to sing for a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film, as his music and the way he presents songs on screen are absolutely magical."
Beyond the trophy and the recognition, the singer says the greatest reward the show gave her was the chance to perform alongside one of her biggest idols, Shreya Ghoshal.
"Beyond the trophy, the biggest gift that Indian Idol has given me is the opportunity to meet and share the stage with Shreya Ghoshal ma'am. When I came for the auditions, I was so excited just to see her in person. I never imagined that I would get the chance to perform alongside her multiple times. For me, that is the most precious gift Indian Idol has given me, and I will cherish those memories forever."
With the Indian Idol 16 trophy now in her hands, Jyotirmayee Nayak is ready to embark on her professional journey, carrying with her the lessons, memories, and confidence she gained on the show. As India's newest singing sensation, she hopes this victory is only the first of many milestones in her musical career.
