Shreya Ghoshal, a name synonymous with soulful melodies in Bollywood, recently shared insights into how the iconic song "Bairi Piya" from the movie Devdas (2002) came to life, revealing the "magical" experience of working with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Ghoshal fondly recalls that her journey with "Bairi Piya" began with rehearsals, where Bhansali ensured she felt comfortable with the song. In an interview with Filmfare, Ghoshal recounted how she was called into the studio one day at Western Outdoor. Bhansali told her that the arrangement was done and asked her to wear headphones and sing, to see if she was comfortable. Thinking it was just a sound check, Ghoshal sang without any pressure.

Unbeknownst to her, this was actually her final take. Ghoshal remembers singing, believing it was just a rehearsal to check her comfort level. After she finished, Bhansali gestured for her to come inside the control room. When she went in, he asked her to listen to what she had just sung. Ghoshal, quite nervous, listened to her own voice, while Bhansali, along with Daman Sood and composer Ismail Darbar, watched her intently. It turned out that this "rehearsal" was actually her test and final recording. The only part that was dubbed later was a section where the 'door' (far) was close. She couldn't get it right at the time, resulting in a strange laugh.

"Bairi Piya," composed by Ismail Darbar and with lyrics by Nusrat Badr, is a duet sung by Ghoshal and Udit Narayan, featuring Aishwarya Rai and Shah Rukh Khan in the video. The song beautifully portrays the innocent love and deep connection between Devdas and Paro. Ghoshal received the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her "soulful rendering" of "Bairi Piya".

The song became an instant hit, topping charts and earning Ghoshal widespread recognition. Aniket Joshi of PlanetBollywood.com noted the similarities between "Bairi Piya" and "Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan" from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, suggesting that fans of the latter would undoubtedly appreciate the former. Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com praised the playful dynamic between Udit Narayan and Shreya Ghoshal in the song, highlighting how Narayan captured Devdas's romanticism, while Ghoshal brought an element of playfulness to Paro's character with her blushing "Eesh". The "ish" sound in the song became a highlight of Parvati's character.

Shreya Ghoshal's initial recording of "Bairi Piya" in a single take without knowing it was the final one is a testament to her talent and the magical environment created by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The song not only launched her career but also immortalized her voice in Bollywood history.