Indrans is taking part in the Class VII Literacy Mission Equivalency Exam

Actor Indrans appears in the 7th standard equivalency examination conducted by Saksharatha Mission in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. | Photo Credit: S. MAHINSHA

Actor Indrans appeared in the class VII equivalency examinations of the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority at the Central High School in Attakulangara in the city on Saturday.

The 68-year-old actor, who had to drop out of school decades ago, had enrolled in the literacy mission classes in late 2023. He had attended an event of the Aksharasree literacy programme as a guest of honour and was inspired by the students, both young and old.

He initially wanted to appear for the Class X equivalency exams, but that was possible only after he cleared the Class VII equivalency exams and got the certificate, says Prerak Vijayalakshmi P., a literacy expert.

The actor, who arrived at the Attakulangara school on time for the Malayalam, English and Hindi exams on Saturday, said in his characteristically innocent manner that while he had prepared for the exams, he was not sure how he would fare.

Unlike Malayalam and even English, he found Hindi, which he does not use in everyday life, challenging, Ms. Vijayalakshmi said.

Due to his acting commitments, Indrans was unable to attend literacy classes, but whenever he had free time, his wife, friends and preraks helped him study.

The exams were held in two sessions: from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm.

On Sunday, the actor returns to school for the exam in three more subjects: Science, Social Sciences and Mathematics. The results will be known in two weeks.

Thirty students had registered for the classes but only 17 appeared in the exams, including a daily wage labourer who worked at the school itself, Ms Vijayalakshmi said.