MUMBAI: Not long ago, Rituraj Mohanty grabbed headlines for becoming the first ever 'India's Raw Star' winner. In less than six months, Mohanty has found himself to be a GiMA award nominee for his track 'Aam Ke Aam Honge', which he performed for 'Satyamev Jayate 2'. The track is composed by 'Bhootnath Returns' composer Ram Sampath.

Speaking about his first nomination for an award, he said, "I have no words to describe my happiness for being nominated. The year I came to Mumbai, GiMA Awards were being held at the Yash Raj Studio, and a few friends and I were sitting right behind the venue and talking about our struggles. That day I itched to get inside, but could not. Now when I am nominated, it is like a dream come true," said Mohanty.

It was Javed Akhtar who recommended his name to the producer of the show. “Ram Sir had assured me that everything would go fine after I recorded this song and I had not even seen my episode when it was telecast. It was a month later that I watched it, and I was very delighted with the kind of response I got from the people,” he added.

Prior to the show, Mohanty also crooned a song- ‘Sahib’ from ‘Bhootnath Returns’ which was also composed Ram Sampath. He did not expect to go on to become the winner of ‘Indian’s Raw Star’. “The reason I participated in the show was to get a name and fame. I wanted to get recognition not only for my songs, but I also wanted people to know who I was,” he said.

Mohanty has been performing with Himesh Reshammiya and has even recorded a few songs with the singer/ actor. He has been nominated in the Best Indie Song category at GiMA and faces competition from Pentagram, Akriti Kakkar, Agnee with Rekha Bhardwaj and Natania Lalwani.