So, the dust has finally settled on Indian Idol 15. If you’ve been following the season, you know it was... a lot. Honestly, between the powerhouse vocals and the inevitable social media drama, this year felt different. We started with thousands of hopefuls and ended with Manasi Ghosh lifting that golden trophy on April 6, 2025.
But if you think the story begins and ends with the winner’s name, you’re kinda missing the real tea. From the moment the Top 15 were announced, the internet was basically a battlefield. Everyone had a favorite, and everyone had a "this show is rigged" theory. Let's get into the actual list of Indian Idol 15 contestants and why this season became one of the most talked-about chapters in the show's history.
The Top 15: Who Made the Cut?
The theater round is usually where the "men are separated from the boys," so to speak. This year, judges Shreya Ghoshal, Vishal Dadlani, and Badshah (who replaced Kumar Sanu this season) picked a pretty diverse group.
- Manasi Ghosh (Winner)
- Subhajit Chakraborty (First Runner-up)
- Sneha Shankar (Second Runner-up)
- Chaitanya Devadhe (also known as Mauli)
- Priyangshu Dutta
- Anirudh Suswaram
- Myscmme Bosu
- Ragini Shinde
- Biswarup Banerjee
- Ritika Raj
- Mayuri Saha
- Ranjini Sen Gupta
- Srijan Porail
- Jyotiprakash Ojha
- Vastav Kumar
The 16th spot—because yes, they actually went with a Top 16 for the Gala rounds—was Ipsit Pati.
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It’s a long list, right? But the reality is that by the time we hit the Top 6, the competition was basically a pressure cooker.
Why Manasi Ghosh Divided the Internet
Manasi Ghosh is a powerhouse. There’s no denying that. She walked away with ₹25 lakh and a brand-new car, but her victory wasn't exactly a "unanimous" vibe among fans.
Before Indian Idol, she was a runner-up on Super Singer, so she already had a bit of a polish to her. Some fans loved her "pop icon" energy—she absolutely nailed songs like "Bin Tere Sanam" and "O Saki Saki." But then there’s the Reddit crowd. If you go on those threads, you'll see people complaining about "overacting" or claiming she was a "drama-based" pick.
There was even a wild rumor about backstage execs making "financial arrangements," though that’s the kind of gossip that flies around every reality show finale. The biggest shocker? Raveena Tandon, who was a guest at the finale, supposedly said Manasi didn't even deserve a Top 5 spot. Talk about awkward.
The Underdogs and the "Arijit Lite" Label
Then you had Subhajit Chakraborty. The judges kept calling his voice "divine," but the audience was split. Some thought he lacked the high-pitch range needed for the big Bollywood anthems.
And then there’s Priyangshu Dutta. Poor guy. People kept calling him "Arijit Lite." It’s a tough label to shake. When you try to channel that soulful, breathy Arijit Singh vibe, you’re either a genius or you’re "trying too hard." Fans were pretty brutal about his breath control toward the end of the season.
The Pure Talent: Sneha and Chaitanya
If you want to talk about raw, technical skill, you have to talk about Sneha Shankar and Chaitanya Devadhe.
Sneha is basically a master of ghazals and classical music. She’s incredibly consistent. But in a show like Indian Idol, sometimes being "too good" at one thing makes people call you "un-versatile." Even though she didn't win, word is she bagged a T-Series contract anyway.
Chaitanya, or Mauli, was the high-pitch king. He reminded a lot of people of Salman Ali, though critics argued his voice was a bit "common" for that style. Still, he made it to the Top 6 for a reason. The guy can belt.
The Judges’ New Dynamic
Vishal and Shreya are staples, but adding Badshah changed the chemistry. Honestly, it was a bit polarizing.
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- Vishal Dadlani: He stayed his usual blunt self, once getting heat for criticizing a contestant’s body language instead of their singing.
- Shreya Ghoshal: Some fans on social media started calling her out for being "insecure" when female contestants sang her songs. It sounds crazy because she’s Shreya Ghoshal, but that was the narrative this year.
- Badshah: He was surprisingly the "chill" one. While he’s not a traditional playback singer, his focus on performance and "vibe" brought a modern edge that the show usually lacks.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Elimination
People always scream "rigged" when a favorite like Biswarup Banerjee or Mayuri Saha gets the boot. But here’s the thing: Indian Idol is a mix of judge rankings and fan voting.
Mayuri was a classical prodigy. Shreya even said she could put Indian classical music on a global stage. But classical doesn't always translate to "votes" in a 90s-themed finale. That’s the heartbreak of the format. You can be the best singer in the room and still lose to the person with the better "story" or the "pop star" look.
Taking Action: How to Follow the Contestants Post-Show
If you're still salty about the results, or if you're a die-hard Manasi fan, don't just wait for Season 16. Here is how you can actually support the Indian Idol 15 contestants now that the cameras are off:
- Check Spotify/YouTube: Most of the Top 10, especially Subhajit and Sneha, have already started dropping independent singles.
- Follow the "Non-Winners": History shows that the winners aren't always the ones who make it big. Look at Arijit Singh (Fame Gurukul) or Rahul Vaidya. Keep an eye on Anirudh Suswaram; despite the criticism of his diction, he’s got a loyal following that might carry him into playback.
- Watch the "Grandest 90s Night": If you missed the finale, go back to SonyLIV. It’s worth it just to see the performances of the Top 3 one last time without the stress of the results.
The journey for these singers is basically just beginning. Manasi might have the trophy, but the industry is big enough for all of them if they play their cards right.
Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking for fresh music, start by searching for Manasi Ghosh's latest independent releases. She’s already mentioned using her prize money to fund her own music videos. Also, keep an ear out for Sneha Shankar's upcoming T-Series projects, which are rumored to be in the works for late 2026.