Bhubaneswar: For singer Ravi Shukla, performing in Rourkela on Monday was homecoming for it was here that he had begun his musical career.

"The love and gratification that an artiste gets in a small city is just unmatchable. It's so gratifying that it inspires you to go back home and put in that extra effort to better your craft," Shukla says.

Winner of the reality show Star Voice of India (Season 2) in 2009 feels reality shows these days do not offer the same privileges they used to.

"Ten years ago, the scenario was very different. Now, you can only cash in if you are the show winner," said the singer, who performed at a private event in Rourkela.

Shukla, who was very much into western music earlier, feels that in order to survive as a singer in India, one needs to be adept at Bollywood music.

"Things are better now because a number of singing sensations have come out from social media channels. But to make a living as a singer, one has to be aware of Bollywood music. It took me around four years to come out of my comfort zone and learn that kind of music before getting into reality shows," he says.

Hailing from Howrah in Bengal, he says: "I did not belong to a musical family and it was difficult for me to make my family understand my true calling. I started taking part in inter-school and college competitions to groom myself."

After his win in 2009, Shukla has been travelling across the country for shows. He also went on a cross country tour in the US for seven months.

A student in the first batch of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa Academy in Mumbai (2007), Shukla says stage shows attract him more than playback singing.

"I like to connect with people," he signs off.