The show returned in March 2023 with a new host, a revised judging panel, and one significant early change in casting: Nithya Menen did not come back. In her place came Geetha Madhuri — a Telugu playback singer with a well-established fan base in the Telugu music industry and a warmth in her judging style that shifted the panel’s energy considerably from Season 1.
The winner, when the Season 2 finale came, was a singer from Visakhapatnam who had taken a long break from music to focus on motherhood. She hadn’t been the favourite going in. She left as champion.
Indian Idol Telugu Season 2 – Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Season | Season 2 |
| Air Dates | March 3, 2023 – June 4, 2023 |
| Platform | Aha (OTT); every Friday and Saturday at 7 PM |
| Production Company | Fremantle |
| Host | Hemachandra (Hema Chandra) |
| Judges | Thaman S; Geetha Madhuri; Karthik |
| Winner | Soujanya Bhagavathula (Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh) |
| Runner-Up (1st) | Jayaram (Hyderabad) |
| Runner-Up (2nd) | Laasya Priya (Siddipet, Telangana) |
| Auditions | Over 10,000 participants |
| Top 5 Finalists | Sruthi (New Jersey); Jayaram (Hyderabad); Laasya Priya (Siddipet); Karthikeya (Hyderabad); Soujanya Bhagavathula (Visakhapatnam) |
| Special Guest (Finale) | Allu Arjun (presented the trophy) |
| Notable Fact | First season hosted by Hemachandra; Geetha Madhuri replaces Nithya Menen as judge |
Host of Indian Idol Telugu Season 2 – Hemachandra
Season 2 saw Sreerama Chandra step aside and Hemachandra take over. Hemachandra is a noted Telugu playback singer with a career spanning Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films. His most recognisable work includes playback singing for multiple major Tollywood productions. As host, he brought a musician’s instinct to the proceedings — the natural empathy of someone who understood what the contestants were experiencing from the inside.
Judges of Indian Idol Telugu Season 2
Thaman S and Karthik both returned from Season 1.
Geetha Madhuri joined as the third judge, replacing Nithya Menen. A versatile Telugu playback singer known for her work across mainstream and folk-influenced Telugu film music, Geetha Madhuri brought an authenticity rooted in Telugu musical traditions that the panel had not had in the same way during Season 1. She has continued as a judge in Seasons 3 and 4.
Winner of Indian Idol Telugu Season 2 – Soujanya Bhagavathula
Soujanya Bhagavathula from Visakhapatnam had not gone into the Season 2 finale as the expected winner. Her own post-win statement captures her mindset accurately: “I was shocked. I didn’t expect to be the winner of the show. When I reached the Top 12, my reaction was the same — I got an opportunity to prove myself after a long break.”
That long break was intentional. A mother to a two-year-old, Soujanya had paused her musical career to focus on her family. She already had professional recording credits — she had sung for the 2017 Telugu film Arjun Reddy. At the finale, she also received the pen with which lyricist Chandrabose had written “Naatu Naatu,” the Oscar-winning song from RRR — a symbolic gesture connecting her victory to one of Telugu cinema’s most celebrated recent achievements.
Allu Arjun, one of Tollywood’s biggest stars, crowned her as champion and said: “Balancing the responsibilities of being a mother to a two-year-old while participating in such a demanding competition is no easy feat, and I deeply respect her dedication and commitment.”
Runner-Up Profiles
Jayaram (Hyderabad) — first runner-up of Season 2. His performances across the competition were consistently strong, and he entered the finale as one of the better-fancied contenders.
Laasya Priya (Siddipet, Telangana) — second runner-up, whose vocal range and stage confidence made her a crowd favourite through the competition.
Indian Idol Telugu Season 2 – Top 12 Contestants
| Contestant | Hometown | Final Position |
| Soujanya Bhagavathula | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh | Winner |
| Jayaram | Hyderabad | 1st Runner-Up |
| Laasya Priya | Siddipet, Telangana | 2nd Runner-Up |
| Sruthi Nanduri | New Jersey, USA | Top 5 |
| Karthikeya | Hyderabad | Top 5 |
| Yuthi Harshavardhan | Bengaluru | Top 12 |
| Manasa | Hyderabad | Top 12 |
| Sai Vaishnavi | Vijayawada | Top 12 |
| Aiyyam Pranthi | Visakhapatnam | Top 12 |
| Chakrapani Nagri | Palasa | Top 12 |
| GV Aditya | Hyderabad | Top 12 |
| Saketh Kommajosyula | Hyderabad | Top 12 |
Key Facts and Legacy of Season 2
Season 2 drew over 10,000 auditionees — already a significant increase from Season 1 — and included contestants from the Indian diaspora in the United States (Sruthi Nanduri from New Jersey), signalling that the show’s reach had extended well beyond Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Allu Arjun’s presence at the finale as the trophy presenter paralleled the Chiranjeevi moment from Season 1, maintaining the tradition of the show’s finale being graced by one of Telugu cinema’s biggest names.
5 FAQs About Indian Idol Telugu Season 2
Q1. Who won Indian Idol Telugu Season 2?
Soujanya Bhagavathula from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, won Season 2. The trophy was presented by Allu Arjun at the finale on June 4, 2023. She had been a playback singer for Telugu cinema before taking a break for motherhood, and her win was described as a comeback story. Jayaram (Hyderabad) was first runner-up and Laasya Priya (Siddipet) was second runner-up.
Q2. Who hosted Indian Idol Telugu Season 2?
Hemachandra — Telugu playback singer — hosted Season 2, replacing Sreerama Chandra who had hosted Season 1. Sreerama Chandra returned as host from Season 3 onward.
Q3. Who were the judges of Indian Idol Telugu Season 2?
Thaman S, Geetha Madhuri, and Karthik. Geetha Madhuri joined as a new judge in Season 2, replacing Nithya Menen from Season 1. The Thaman-Geetha Madhuri-Karthik combination has continued as the judging panel through Seasons 3 and 4.
Q4. How many people auditioned for Indian Idol Telugu Season 2?
Over 10,000 participants auditioned for the Top 12 spots in Season 2, reflecting the show’s growing popularity relative to Season 1.
Q5. What is Soujanya Bhagavathula known for beyond winning Indian Idol Telugu Season 2?
Before winning, she had sung playback for the 2017 Telugu hit Arjun Reddy. At her victory ceremony, she received the pen with which lyricist Chandrabose wrote “Naatu Naatu” — the Oscar-winning song from RRR — as a symbolic honour. She had been a mother to a two-year-old during the competition, making her win one of Season 2’s most celebrated human-interest stories.
