Mercedes EQB

If the Mercedes GLB we featured earlier in this magazine was impressive, the EQB is even more so if you are looking for an urban SUV, with its electric powertrain, this is even more suited for the urban grind. Although it's a CBU, it is a whopping 25 lakhs cheaper than the GLC. And because it is taxed at 5 percent, it doesn't cost that much more than a top-end GLB.

Like the GLB, the EQB is also based on the MFA2 platform. The front - end has been smoothened out with a close-off black grille and curvier lines around the headlamps.

The side profile is similar to the GLB but the tail lamps are jointed and the number plate recess has been moved to the bumper. It is slightly longer than the GLB because of the bigger bumper.

Step inside and you see the same dash as the GLB but with the copper accents which are specific to the EQ range. The dashboard design is nice and the ergonomics are good. The MBUX spans across two 10.25-inch screens, one for the driver and another for the infotainment system. The dashboard gets extra leather trim on top for a more premium feel. The seats are finished in leather and rose gold fabric. The front seats are supportive but you don't get the AMG line seats that hug you all around. In the second row, you notice the floor is higher due to the battery placed underneath. The third row is very low, access is difficult and isn't for adults. Luggage space is down to 465 litres. The EQB 300 we get in India comes with two motors, one for each axle which combined have 229 bhp and 390Nm. The front motor is an induction motor and the rear is a permanent magnet synchronous motor which does most of the work. The EQB feels nice and gentle in the way it accelerates. It is smooth and easy to drive within the city while being brisk enough to quickly close gaps when you need to. 0-100kmph happens in a claimed 8 seconds and the top speed is 160kmph. The battery pack is 66.5kWh and has a WLTP range of 423km. Charging from 10-80 percent takes 32 minutes in a 100kW DC charger or 10-100 percent in 6 hours and 25 minutes in an 11kW AC charger.

The EQB feels nice and gentle in the way it accelerates. It is smooth and easy to drive within the city while being brisk enough to quickly close gaps when you need to. 0-100kmph happens in a claimed 8 seconds and the top speed is 160kmph.

The steering feels consistent and the brakes have good stopping power, aided by the regen of course. Ride quality is much better than the GLB, perhaps down to the smaller 18-inch wheels.

While the GLB feels front wheel driven and it is, for the most part, the EQB feels distinctively rear wheel driven. There is a sense of turning into a corner where it feels like being pushed from the rear that is enjoyable. The low centre of gravity with the 469kilo battery pack mounted low in the chassis also helps. The steering feels consistent and the brakes have good stopping power, aided by the regen of course. Ride quality is much better than the GLB, perhaps down to the smaller 18-inch wheels. There is a good ground clearance of

155mm, so it doesn't scrape anywhere.

The Mercedes EQB is priced at Rs.74.5 lakhs ex. showroom. It may not be as good value as the locally assembled Volvo XC40 but makes up for it with a more plush cabin and two extra seats. Mercedes says the residual values are on par with the ICE-equipped car and offers similar buyback prices for the EQB

Pathaan

Siddharth

Anand is the director of the 2023 Hindi-language action thriller movie Pathaan. Along with Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, it also stars John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia, and Ashutosh Rana. In the movie, Pathaan, an exiled RAW agent, teams up with ISI operative Rubina to stop Jim, a former RAW agent turned traitor, from infecting India with a lethal lab-created virus. It's a family movie without any controversial content, but it will instead stoke the audience's sense of patriotism. The film is successful not just because of SRK; it's a total showbiz package with fantastic work from the lead trio. The actions are top-notch and unquestionably up to Hollywood standards. However, with Shah Rukh Khan playing the lead and Siddharth Anand at the helm, the movie is an extremely exciting action movie with stunning visuals. Overall, it's an amazing film with a smart and engaging storyline that will hold your attention for two hours. You'll be kept entertained to the very end by twists and wow moments.

Shantanu Bagchi is the director of the 2023 Indian spy thriller movie Mission Majnu. The movie, which features Sidharth Malhotra, is a fictional account that takes place prior to and during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. In supporting roles are Rashmika Mandanna, Parmeet Sethi, Sharib Hashmi, Kumud Mishra, and Rajit Kapur. The movie keeps loyal to its concept of the clandestine operation being revealed and avoids any overt displays of patriotism. It's important to pay attention to the conversations. Sidharth does a good job portraying Tariq and Amandeep, particularly in dramatic sequences. As Amandeep's partner, Sharib Hashmi also turns forth a great performance. Amandeep's intelligence, creativity, and patriotism while being mistreated are the main themes of Mission Majnu, but there is also a lot of action, which Sidharth does excellently.The crisp script, cleverly crafted moments, flawless execution, and standout performances by Sidharth Malhotra and other cast members make Mission Majnu an overall compelling saga.

Ayisha

The Malayalam-Arabic bilingual film by newcomer Aamir Pallikkal is based on the life of Nilambur Ayisha, popularly known as the first Muslim woman to act in plays and motion pictures in Kerala. The story revolves around Ayisha's experiences working as a housekeeper for a Saudi Arabian royal family. The majority of the horrible details from her background are kept to a minimum to highlight how valiantly she attempts to live on despite them. The uplifting drama examines suffering, leaving, the final seconds before death, betrayal, and the mystical tie between people that transcends national boundaries. Ayisha is made into an unforgettable character in the audience's thoughts by Manju Warrier. She and Mona, who plays Mama in the film, have wonderful chemistry together. Their relationship defies the usual notions of women in fictional roles, particularly those of mothers, lovers, sisters, and wives. They rely on one another and take pleasure in one another's companionship. The performances by each performer in the film were excellent.

Past Lives

Past Lives is a 2023 American drama romance film written and directed by Celine Song in her directorial debut. It stars Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro. When Nora’s family immigrates to Canada, a burgeoning childhood relationship between Nora and Hae Sung, classmates at a primary school in Seoul, comes to an abrupt stop. Twelve years later, Nora, who is now studying playwriting in New York, discovers that Hae Sung has been looking for her on social media. The film Past Lives explores the friendship between two friends who have feelings for one another. Even though their circumstances and other critical life experiences have changed them, they are still connected by something important. The movie pays exquisite attention to longing and romance, and it does it in a surprising and perceptive way that also respects the passage of time and how many circumstances may change the course of two people’s lives.