THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
JULY 15, 2026
KIIT Deemed to be
University (KIIT-DU) accorded a grand welcome to its alumna, Jyotirmayee Nayak,
on Wednesday after she returned to Bhubaneswar following her qualification for
the Grand Finale of Sony TV’s reality show Indian Idol Season 16.
A special Homecoming
Celebration was organised on the KIIT campus, where Jyotirmayee visited both
the KIIT and KISS campuses and interacted with students, faculty members and
staff amid a rousing reception. She has scripted history by becoming the first
Odia singer to reach the Grand Finale of the flagship Indian Idol competition,
bringing laurels to Odisha and her alma mater.
Addressing the
gathering, KIIT and KISS Founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta said Jyotirmayee had made
“all of us proud, Odisha proud and India proud.” Describing her as “the most
talented singer,” he noted that she has already recorded more than 1,000 Odia
songs and praised her humility, saying, “Those who are beautiful from inside
are truly beautiful. She is the real Jyoti—Jyotirmayee Nayak.”
Dr. Samanta thanked
her for acknowledging KIIT throughout her Indian Idol journey and said the
entire KIIT-KISS family stood firmly behind her. “You have the blessings of
40,000 KIIT students. Our one lakh family members will vote for you,” he said,
appealing to all KIITians to extend their wholehearted support to her in the Grand
Finale. Jyotirmayee’s parents were also present on the occasion.
Joining the event as
the chief guest, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Mayor Sulochana Das
congratulated Jyotirmayee on her remarkable achievement and expressed
confidence that she would emerge victorious in the Grand Finale. Prof. Saranjit
Singh, Vice Chancellor of KIIT and KISS, along with several prominent Odia film
actors and singers, attended the programme and conveyed their best wishes for
her success.
Overwhelmed by the warm reception, Jyotirmayee thanked Dr. Samanta, the KIIT-KISS family and the people of Odisha for their unwavering support. She shared that performing with Shreya Ghoshal, whom she regards as her idol, had always been her dream. Recalling one of the most challenging moments of the competition, she said she had lost her voice before one of her performances but remained determined to continue.
“We have to have determination to succeed. It is now or never,” she said, adding that the judges appreciated her ability to overcome adversity and continue performing with confidence.
