5 Aishwarya Rai Songs From The 2000s That Defined Our Childhood

To all the Diaspora kids, you can have this moment.

I get it, Desi Twitter and Tumblr reference her movie stills and editorials ALL the time. She's BEEN the moment, now come on now! However, in the name of reliving our childhood memories of learning the dances in front of our TV screens, I think we should give each of these songs their own credit in shaping some of our young minds.

1. "Barso Re"

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Most of us know that A.R. Rahman is a genius, and this song is yet another example of an Aishwarya Rai x A.R. Rahman collaboration that proves the power that the both of them hold. Every time it rained, every time there was a dance for a function or an event that was to be prepared, every time we took a shower, this song was definitely at the top of our lists. However, I'm still wondering if that bull actually hit Aishwarya in the face or not...

2. "Crazy Kiya Re"

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We're going to look over some of the bizzare English lyrics in this song, but we aren't going to look over are the choreography and the looks. Choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant, these dance moves have been replicated by everyone, from children at weddings to celebrities at Award Shows. One thing is for sure though: I need someone to show me how to recreate these looks.

3. "Kajra Re"

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We're going to look over the fact that the actors playing the opposite male characters in this song were her soon-to-be husband AND father-in-law, but if there is one song I cannot leave out from this list, it is definitely this one. The lyricism, the beat, the instrumentals — this is definitely a song that makes you get up and dance or blast it at the highest volume in your car (especially with Alisha Chinai's beautiful voice).

4. "Salaam"

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I've said it before and I'll say it again: the 2006 remake of Umrao Jaan is an underrated classic (if we can call movies from the 2000s classics yet). While the 1981 version with Rekha holds a dear spot in many of our hearts, I really do think the 2006 version was able to provide a new take on it. As a song, "Salaam" gave us Aishwarya Rai showcasing her elegant dance moves and her ethereal beauty. Her dress, her jewelry, her makeup, her henna; she was the definition of opulence in this film for many of us.

5. And Any Song from Devdas

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We could put "Dola Re" or "Silsila Ye Chahat Ka," but in all honesty, every song and scene from this film remains permanently implanted in many of our brains. From the sets, to the background dancers, to the costumes, to the vocals, this movie serves as a testament to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's world-building when it comes to his movies, and equally as important, the charm of Aishwarya.

As I said, she's BEEN the moment!

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