Young Shovon Ganguly packed his bags and came to Mumbai to display his rhythmic prowess to the masses. Little did he know that his long cherished musical dream would be cut short after being eliminated from Sony’s X Factor. Regardless, the ambitious crooner hopes to make it big in the world of music someday. In an interview with TellyChakkar, Shovon shares his disappointment and lists his future plans. On elimination… I was shocked to be eliminated. I sang to the best of my capabilities that day. If you see the show, you will see that my face-off competitor Sahiti forgot the lyrics while singing. After the round, judges came and patted my back, but at the time of elimination Pritam decided to vote against me. I am happy that I sang well and got voted out rather than singing badly and getting out of the show. I feel Sonu Niigaam’s absence made all the difference. If he would have been here, I could have avoided elimination. On X Factor… X Factor is too big a platform for people like us who want to become successful playback singers. The best part is the show’s versatility. It is not only about singing but also to emerge as a good performer. I could never dance well but during the show I learnt how to dance. My mentor Sonu Niigaam is a true performer. He has a charm and aura that is unique. He taught us how to perform while singing and impress viewers. My experience in the show was a fruitful one. On the musical journey… I hail from Howrah, Kolkata. Before X Factor I did participate in state level reality shows. I went to audition for X Factor casually but when I began to clear rounds after rounds, I realised I could make it to the top 11. And I did. The journey so far has been an enriching one. People know me now and I hope to continue my hard work and emerge as a successful singer. On inspiration… The only inspiration in my life is the great Rabindranath Tagore. I idolise him. His works – be it poems, songs, short stories or novels – are amazingly poignant and deep. I love Rabindra sangeet and keep humming the songs all the time. On reality shows and judges… Reality shows provide you with an opportunity to showcase talent and get famous. But it is not the only way to earn fame. If not reality shows, there are other avenues through which people can show their talent. Judges play an important role in any contestant’s life. Their comments are very valuable. In my case, I have been lucky to meet, talk and get judged by Sonu Niigaam, Shreya Ghoshal, Sanjay sir and all those who visited the sets. On future plans… I am sad that I am out of the show. It is like a dream cut short. However, I have got a good exposure and I am hopeful of becoming a successful singer. I also plan to open a recording studio of my own where I can compose songs and record them.