Mumbai, July 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Fresh from winning ‘Indian Idol 16’, singer Jyotirmayee Nayak says the popular reality show proved to be a turning point in her musical journey, helping her expand her artistic range and emerge as a more versatile performer.
In an exclusive interaction with IANS, Jyotirmayee reflected on her experience in the competition, saying the platform challenged her to move beyond familiar territory and discover new dimensions of her singing.
She said that while she had earlier gained recognition by winning Odiya Superstar, her victory on Indian Idol 16 marked a significant phase in her growth as an artiste. According to her, she had largely performed songs made famous by legendary singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, but the competition encouraged her to experiment with voice modulation and different vocal styles.
Recalling one of the defining moments of the finale, Jyotirmayee said her performance of “Gazar Ne Kiya Hai Ishaara” required a completely different vocal approach. She added that judge Shreya Ghoshal appreciated her decision to attempt such a challenging rendition and praised her voice modulation during the performance.
Speaking about her emotional victory, Jyotirmayee described the journey as one of perseverance. She recalled overcoming a severe throat ailment that had once left her unable to sing, making her eventual triumph even more meaningful.
The singer said she remained focused on delivering her best performance throughout the competition and struggled to believe the result when her name was announced as the winner. She added that she had consistently visualised herself lifting the trophy and believed that unwavering positivity and self-belief ultimately helped turn that dream into reality.
Jyotirmayee Nayak hails from Baunsanal village in the Nilgiri block of Odisha’s Balasore district. Besides being a well-known playback singer in the Odia music industry, she is also a trained music therapist who works with cancer patients and expecting mothers.
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