A film for math buffs, with a universal appeal.
By Sujeet Rajan
NEW YORK: The unparalleled genius that was Srinivasa Ramanujan, acknowledged by mathematicians as perhaps the greatest ever, who even today almost a hundred years after his death in 1920 at the age of 32 continues to change the face of the subject as his works are unraveled, has been brought out in a biopic ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’, directed by Matt Brown, which hits theaters in the United States tomorrow, April 29th.
Dev Patel (‘Slumdog Millionaire’) plays the role of Ramanujan, a prodigy who was brilliant at mathematics but failed to keep his scholarship and get his degree in college in Tamil Nadu, India, and had to drop out, because of lack of interest for any other subject.
Despite struggling for long to find a job and living in poverty, Ramanujan never stopped writing original mathematical computations and theorems. That led him eventually to be recognized by one of the great British mathematicians of his time, Cambridge’s Trinity College’s G.H. Hardy (played by Jeremy Irons – ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’, ‘Reversal of Fortune’). Hardy, who was intrigued by the writings of Ramanujan received by mail, helps Ramanujan get to Trinity, with a promise to publish his theorems.
‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’, based on Robert Kanigel’s 1991 book of the same name, is a universal, must watch film for math buffs, child prodigies and geniuses who know what they have, but need that extra bit of mentoring and help to achieve their goals. Brown, who also wrote the screenplay, doesn’t hold back from letting long stretches of the film be steeped in banter between the characters played by Patel and Irons that only mathematicians can understand, and is the equivalent of hearing a foreign language for mere mortals.
But those moments of math talk between them also comprises of the strongest scenes in the film as the duo play out an emotionally charged see-saw battle between reason and rationale. The perplexed (and atheist) Hardy is mystified by the genius of Ramanujan (who believes God plays a role in every bit of math he does); the former not quite wanting to believe without proof of what Ramanujan has produced, yet is slowly drawn in and convinced of the genius that unfolds.
While it’s a good idea to read up on Ramanujan before one goes to watch this film – as his genius is such that it cannot be put on screen simply because it’s impossible, as most of his works were really recognized after his death – the film is also the journey of an immigrant who goes overseas not for the money, but for the work he does, stifled by the lack of opportunities in his home country. The trials and tribulations of Ramanujan’s early life in England, on the brink of World War I, is relevant even today: the angst of the vegetarian, the racial taunts and humiliations by racists, the bullying and unprovoked nastiness, the derogatory behavior he is subjected to; the honor he is accorded once peers recognize his work.
The domestic aspect of Ramanjunan’s life is also highlighted adequately in the film, but serves little purpose as far as trying to understand Ramanujan himself goes; it’s more of highlighting the cultural mores of India of that period. The Manhattan-born and raised actress Devika Bhise plays the role of Srimathi Janaki, who was Srinivasan’s wife.
The talented Bhise essays her role excellently, capturing the nuances of the Tamil Brahmin wife who cannot understand her husband’s genius, his desire to travel to the UK, feels insecure in his departure, mopes for long. Ramanujan explains mathematics to his wife like this: “It’s like a painting, I think. Only, imagine it is with colors you cannot see.”
While recent biopics like ‘The Imitation Game’ (about Alan Turing) and ‘The Theory of Everything’ (about Stephen Hawking), and the earlier, brilliant ‘A Beautiful Mind’ (about mathematician John Nash), focused a lot on the life of the individual, ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ seems slim in its portrayal of Ramajunan himself.
There are moments when Ramanujan is shown brooding in his room, torn between despair and agitation because of his work not getting published, his struggle and humiliation with his debilitating health, and then of course, his tumultuous relationship with some other professors at Cambridge. But too often, the camera cuts away to more mundane issues, leaving one wanting more of the man himself.
‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ is at its most interesting when the professional relationship between Ramanujan and Hardy is dwelt upon, as the latter slowly comes around to the understanding of the former’s greatness, and then launches an all-out effort to help secure a fellowship to have Ramajunan stay on in Cambridge. Dev Patel gives an admirable performance as Ramanujan, going toe-to-toe with the inimitable, great Jeremy Irons, who excels in his role of Hardy.
Those moments between the two are riveting. Some other sections, with frequent shifts to Ramajunan’s wife and mother’s angst because of his absence, while it shows a slice of history, doesn’t do much for the film itself, took away its sheen. Those scenes are monotonous despite Bhise’s poignant role. One can only wish that like the camera followed Russell Crowe in his role of John Nash in ‘A Beautiful Mind’, Brown had done the same for Patel, shown more of Ramanujan’s work at Cambridge, tried to dissect the mind of the genius a bit more.
At one point in the film, Ramajunan says to the staid Hardy, explaining how he almost conjures up his mathematical abilities: “An equation has no meaning for me unless it expresses a thought of God.” That line is perhaps the most important and striking in the film, one which an emotionally moved Hardy in a memorable speech repeats to secure Ramanujan a place in Cambridge.
Patel and Irons deserve kudos for fine performances. The film itself should be watched by all Indians who can do so, if only for the sake of as a tribute to the greatest mathematician India ever produced.
(Sujeet Rajan is Editor-in-Chief, The American Bazaar. Follow him @SujeetRajan1)