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New Delhi: Jyotirmayee Nayak, 24, from Odisha, became the first person from her state to win Indian Idol Season 16, creating history. She took home the trophy along with Rs 20 lakh rupees. Running for nine months, Indian Idol Season 16 set a record as the longest reality show in Indian television history.

The grand final was held on July 26, 2026, where 24-year-old Jyotirmayee Nayak from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, won the trophy and a cash prize of 20 lakh rupees.

Who is Jyotirmayee Nayak?

Jyotirmayee Nayak is not a new person to the music industry. Way before joining Indian Idol, she was already a well-known performer in Odisha, singing at concerts, cultural programs, devotional events, and local music tracks. Trained in singing, she has explored classical, semi-classical, folk, and Bollywood music.

She was healing people with music

One of the most touching aspects of Jyotirmayee’s life is what she did before joining reality television. She worked as a music therapist, performing for cancer patients to offer them comfort through music. She even shared that several of those patients urged her to try out for Indian Idol, and their wishes gave her the confidence to pursue her dream.

A first for Odisha

Jyotirmayee did not merely win Indian Idol, she made history. She became the very first participant from Odisha to win the Indian Idol trophy.

She totally owned Indian Idol 16

Right from her first audition, Jyotirmayee kept the audience captivated. A few of her top moments included her rendition of ‘O Jab Tak Hai Jaan Jaane Jahan Main Nachungi,’ which got a standing ovation from Hema Malini, and ‘Jaane Kyun Log Mohabbat Kiya Karte Hain,’ which gained immense appreciation as well.

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The singer defeated fellow finalists Anshika Chonkar, Manraj Veer Singh, Myscmme Bosu, Suhail Sufi, and Tanishk Shukla to win the trophy following months of contest.

Jyotirmayee opens up after winning Indian Idol 16

Tanishk was named the first runner-up, whereas Manraj secured the third spot. Together with the trophy, Jyotirmayee got cash winnings of 20 lakh rupees. The remaining runners-up were awarded cheques of 5 lakh rupees each.

Shortly after the announcement, Indian Idol 16 winner Jyotirmayee called her victory the completion of a lifelong dream. “Winning Indian Idol Season 16 feels absolutely surreal. From walking into the auditions with nothing but a dream to standing here as the winner, this journey has truly been life-changing. Every performance challenged me to become a better singer, performer, and person, and I’ll always cherish everything I’ve learned along the way,” she said in a statement.

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She also expressed gratitude to the creators of the show and all the people who backed her during the contest. “A heartfelt thank you to our judges, Aditya bhaiya, the entire crew, everyone behind the scenes who worked tirelessly to make this journey so special, my family, friends, and every single person who believed in me and voted for me. This trophy is not just mine; it belongs to everyone who stood by me and made this dream possible. I hope to continue making music that touches hearts, keeps me learning, and makes everyone proud,” she added.

Curated by – Shahira Siddiqui