How a self-taught Indian clerk became a titan of twentieth-century mathematics
In short: The Man Who Knew Infinity chronicles the true story of Srinivasa Ramanujan, an impoverished clerk from Madras who defied the odds to collaborate with G. H. Hardy at Cambridge. Their unlikely partnership bridged cultural divides and produced groundbreaking mathematical theories, even as personal tragedy and systemic prejudice threatened to intervene.
The 2015 biographical drama, directed by Matt Brown and based on Robert Kanigel’s 1991 book, explores the life of Srinivasa Ramanujan. Born into poverty in Madras, India, Ramanujan’s exceptional mathematical talent was first recognized by his employers, who encouraged him to share his work with international scholars. This led to a pivotal correspondence with G. H. Hardy, a renowned mathematician at the University of Cambridge, who invited Ramanujan to England during World War I to test his potential.
The film depicts the significant challenges Ramanujan faced upon his arrival, including intense racial prejudice and the difficulty of adjusting to life in England. Hardy, while impressed by his student’s genius, struggled to help Ramanujan communicate his insights effectively, as the young mathematician lacked formal training in writing proofs. Their relationship was further complicated by Ramanujan’s declining health due to tuberculosis, exacerbated by poor housing and the harsh English climate, as well as his isolation from his wife, Janaki, whose letters were intercepted by his mother back in India.
Despite these obstacles, Hardy championed Ramanujan’s career, eventually securing his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society and a fellow of Trinity College. The film has been lauded by mathematicians like Ken Ono and Manjul Bhargava for its authentic portrayal of the field. While some critics found the narrative structure conventional, others praised the performances of Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons, noting that the film successfully makes complex mathematical achievements accessible to a general audience. Ramanujan died in India at age 32, shortly after achieving international recognition for his profound contributions to mathematics.
The production process itself was a long-term endeavor, spanning eight years of development before filming began at Trinity College in August 2014. The project marked the final screen appearance of actor Richard Johnson. By focusing on the deep, intellectual bond between two men from vastly different worlds, the film highlights a legacy that remains significant nearly a century after Ramanujan’s untimely death.
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