The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015)

Growing up poor in Madras, India, Srinivasa Ramanujan Iyengar earns admittance to Cambridge University during WWI, where he becomes a pioneer in mathematical theories with the guidance of his professor, G.H. Hardy.

Director:

Matt Brown

Writers:

Matt Brown (screenplay), Matt Brown

Stars:

Jeremy Irons, Dev Patel, Toby Jones

Cast

Credited cast:
Jeremy Irons	...	G.H. Hardy
Dev Patel	...	Srinivasa Ramanujan
Toby Jones	...	Littlewood
Stephen Fry	...	Sir Francis Spring
Jeremy Northam	...	Bertrand Russell
Kevin McNally	...	Major McMahon
Enzo Cilenti	...	Doctor
Devika Bhise	...	Janaki
Richard Johnson
Alexander Cooper	...	Stretcher bearer
Shazad Latif	...	Chandra Mahalanobis
Padraic Delaney	...	Beglan
Roman Green	...	Wounded Soldier
Devlin Lloyd	...	Student / Cadet
Roger Narayan	...	Mr.Iyengar / The Scribe

Storyline

Growing up poor in Madras, India, Srinivasa Ramanujan Iyengar earns admittance to Cambridge University during WWI, where he becomes a pioneer in mathematical theories with the guidance of his professor, G.H. Hardy.

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Plot Keywords:

based on book | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and smoking

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

Tamil English

Release Date:

29 April 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Covjek koji je spoznao beskonacnost

Filming Locations:

The Charterhouse, Charterhouse Square, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edward R. Pressman Film, Xeitgeist Entertainment Group, Animus Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Leavitt ("The Lost Language of Cranes") wrote a semi-fictional version of this story in his novel, "The Indian Clerk".

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Goofs

G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons) spells "Jacobi" incorrectly when writing on the blackboard by transposing the 'c' and the 'b' This is changed in later cuts of the film.

User Reviews

'The Man who knew infinity' is not at all a reliable source of information about Ramanujan.

There is hardly an erudite scholar in India who has not heard of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. It is believed that even most young school children in India with some degree of interest in mathematics know all about his life as well as achievements. His stature as a national hero in India is unparalleled. These are some reasons which might induce viewers both young and old alike to watch this film about Ramanujan. However, major disappointment is one sentiment which would greet viewers when they finish watching this ambitious film which failed to deliver on many counts. Firstly, it is episodic in nature and fails to develop as a large cohesive entity. Secondly, watching 'The man who knew infinity', one might have the impression of watching several short films tied together as a finished product. Dev Patel is an absolute miscast as Ramanujan largely due to his inability to delve deeper into the great man's life. It is strange to note that Srinivasa Ramanujan's relationship with his wife when he was in UK has been presented as a love story ! If this was not enough to add insult to injury, an additional blunder was committed by portraying this famous mathematician's mother as a villain who did not care at all for his wife ! The true story of Ramanujan is missing from this film as it not at all about Ramanujan but everything which happened to him. By giving importance to secondary stories around Ramanujan, the real story of Ramanujam remained untold.