Zero song 'Husn Parcham': Katrina Kaif sizzles as Babita Kumari in sensuous item number

As an actress Katrina Kaif has her limitations, but there is no doubt about her dancing skills. She has enthralled audiences with memorable performances to songs like 'Sheila Ki Jawaani' from Tees Maar Khan (2010), 'Chikni Chameli' from Agneepath (2012) and 'Kamli' from Dhoom 3 (2013).

Kaif adds another glorious number, 'Husn Parcham' from Zero, co-starring Anushka Sharma and Shah Rukh Khan, to that list.

Director Aanand L Rai, Shah Rukh Khan and Kaif launched the number 'Husn Parcham' today. The song has been penned by Irshad Kamil. The word 'parcham' is generally used to describe a flag and is a Pashto word.

Katrina Kaif plays film star Babita Kumari in the film. Shah Rukh Khan had posted yesterday on Instagram the meaning of the words 'husn parcham'. He called it an announcement of beauty.

The song displays Kaif's beauty in all its glory as she looks like a million bucks. She changes many looks and costumes in the song. Perhaps for the first time, we see the actress sporting curly hair. From wearing little saris to cool Western clothes, Katrina Kaif look resplendent in the costumes.

For the rollicking score, the choreography by Bosco Martis may be a little underwhelming, but the song’s true appeal lies in Katrina Kaif's sensuousness.

Lyricist Kamil gets a thumbs up for the intriguing lyrics, delivering a song befitting the character of Babita Kumari. It is not often that a Hindi film song comes with subtitles. Barring a few terms, mainly 'husn parcham', most words should not be too difficult to gauge for Hindi- and Urdu-speaking audiences. But then gone are the days when listeners would take the trouble to dig out the meaning of words in a song. The subtitles here only help the song to reach out to the masses.

The visuals have their appeal, but it is the singing and the music that truly make this a thoroughly engrossing dance number.

Singer Bhoomi Trivedi has to her credits songs like ‘Ram Chahe Leela’ from Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-leela (2013) and 'Udi Udi Jaye' from Raees (2017). They were fine songs, but 'Husn Parcham' is arguably the defining track of her career yet.

Trivedi does well to emote the swag of Babita Kumari in her tone. She is complimented well by co-singer Raja Kumari.

Ajay and Atul Gogavale had given Katrina Kaif 'Chikni Chameli' and the trio have come together again to weave magic with 'Husn Parcham'. The music composer duo has produced a riveting score that has a nice mix of contemporary 'Bollywood', Arabic and hip-hop to it.

Overall, 'Husn Parcham' hits you like a thunderbolt. Khan as Bauua Singh gets the best seat in the house as he and his friends watch the dance number on the big screen. The affection Bauua has for Babita can be gauged from the fact that the little man appears to have walked out from his haldi ceremony to catch the song. The man can give up anything just for a glimpse of Babita.

Zero will be released on 21 December. Watch the 'Husn Parcham' song below and tell us if you will be watching this film in the theatres: