MAM
Vidya Balan set to play M S Subbulakshmi in biopic
MUMBAI: Known to have directed critically acclaimed Tamil films like Minsara Kanavu and Kandukondain Kandukondain, cinematographer turned director Rajiv Menon has approached Vidya Balan to play noted vocalist and Bharat Ratna awardee M S Subbulakshmi in a biopic to be made on her.
In a message from a distant land where he is currently shooting, Menon stated, “When I narrated the script to Vidya, she has approved of it. Next week, we would be taking the project to the next level after I return to India. At the moment, I am shooting in South Africa.”
It is said that earlier Menon wanted to make a biopic on Lata Mangeshkar but later changed his mind to do the same of Subbulakshmi when he came to know that Vidya, being a keen student of music, would be able to carry out the role encompassing the songstress‘ age-span from 18 to 88 with ease.
According to the director, the Subbulakshmi biopic would be the most costliest ever to be made at an estimated cost of Rs 70 crore in three languages Hindi, Tamil and English.
MAM
Walkabout launches India’s first athlete recognition for over-55s
Walkabout Athlete Program offers Rs 25,000 stipend and national spotlight to active seniors 55 plus in track, badminton, cycling, swimming, kabaddi and more.
MUMBAI: Age may be just a number, but for India’s over-55 athletes it’s finally getting the medal it deserves without anyone having to hang up their boots. Walkabout, India’s largest community platform for active agers (55 plus), has rolled out the Walkabout Athlete Program, the country’s first formal initiative to recognise and support older adults who continue to compete seriously in organised sports. From track and field to badminton, cycling, swimming, martial arts, kabaddi, hockey, pickleball and even chess, the nationwide search is on for anyone over 55 who simply hasn’t stopped playing.
Selected athletes will receive a Rs 25,000 recognition stipend to help with training, equipment, entry fees or travel. They’ll also earn official Walkabout Athlete status, exclusive gear, and a national platform through content features, press interviews, social media spotlights and priority access to Walkabout events across India.
The first cohort will pick 4 to 5 athletes in the initial phase. Applications are open pan-India, with a selection panel judging consistency of participation, community influence, the quality and relatability of each athlete’s story, willingness to engage, and diversity across geography, sport and gender.
Walkabout co-founder and MD, BD and partnerships Ashwini Kapila put it perfectly, “I know a 58-year-old still competing in badminton tournaments. A community member took up athletics at 65. These people are everywhere in India, yet almost none get recognised. India has strong systems to find its next Olympic medallist, we’re building one that finds the 55-year-old who never stopped training. Both matter. Competitive sport doesn’t have to end at 30 or 40.”
The programme builds on Walkabout’s growing momentum in active ageing. In December 2025 the platform hosted its first Walkabout Senior Games in Mumbai (Juhu), followed by the nostalgic Senior Ball Night at Pioneer Hall in Bandra in March 2026. Founded in 2024 by Deval Delivala and Ashwini Kapila (formerly Getsetup India), WalkAbout has raised seed funding from HDFC Bank and partners with names including Raymond Realty, Bblunt, Furtados and Uber.
While India pours resources into spotting young talent, Walkabout is quietly championing the millions of adults over 50 who never left the field. This isn’t about nostalgia alone, it’s about giving late-life athletes the recognition, support and visibility they’ve long earned. Applications are now open for anyone ready to step into the spotlight and show that the game isn’t over until you decide it is.
