Most of Tripura was in party mode the whole night until Monday morning, bursting crackers and dancing on the streets to celebrate Sourabhee Debbarma being crowned "Indian Idol" in Mumbai. The young singer from Tripura became the first woman "Indian Idol" in the fourth year of the live TV competition.

"I can't believe that I become the Indian Idol. I am grateful to all my fans and those who voted for me to reach the top position," Sourabhee, 22, told over telephone from Mumbai.

"It feels like I'm still at the rehearsals. I thank all of you for making a girl the 'Indian Idol' and shall try to continue to entertain all of you."

Accompanied by her parents and a galaxy of actors including Katrina Kaif, John Abraham and Sonali Bendre, Sourabhee received a contract award worth Rs.10 million and a TATA Winger car besides other awards at the show's finale hosted by Sony Entertainment channel Sunday night.

Sourabhee, who had completed a Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA), won the fourth edition of "Indian Idol", pipping Torsha Sarkar of West Bengal and Kapil Thapa of Dehradun in the final round.

"A platform like 'Indian Idol' to show off her talent, getting a standing ovation from renowned personalities like Javed Akhtar, Anu Malik, Kailash Kher and John Abraham is a lifetime experience for both Sourabhee and us," said Sunil Debbarmam, her father.

Said Pradyot Bikram Kishore Manikya, who belongs to Tripura's erstwhile royal family and is one of the main sponsors of Sourabhee: "What Shillong's Amit Paul missed by a whisker in the last season of the 'Indian Idol' show, Sourabhee made it with the overwhelming support from the music crazy people of the northeast."

Amit Paul had lost to Prashanta Tamang, from Darjeeling in West bengal, in the final last year.

"Sourabhee's success proves beyond doubt that there is no dearth of talent in the northeast and that all these bright youngsters need a platform or an opening to prove their capability and ability," Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar told.

"With Sourabhee's performance, now the world would know better about the land of the legendary music maestro Sachin Dev Burman and Rahul Dev Burman," he added.

"If the rest of the world thinks that the northeastern region is all about violence and bloodshed, they must be proved wrong through this kind of musical feat," said Tripura Cultural Affairs Minister Anil Sarkar.

"She had no formal initiation into music under a teacher but she loved music from childhood and is gifted with a good voice. I did not allow her to indulge in her favourite pastime of singing during her schooldays though," said Sourabhee's father, who works for the Tripura government.

As soon as Sourabhee was declared the new "Indian Idol", crackers were burst in Tripura capital Agartala. Residents poured on to the streets and continued dancing till the morning to celebrate the victory.