Walking out of the movie hall, one can't but wonder how, for a movie based on the life story of a mathematician, was remarkably engrossing, almost repudiating all those who looked at Math as a dry subject. While the movie presented the story of a very passionate mathematician who wanted to have his work, which he believed had been revealed to him by God, revealed to the world, it could hold the interests of an ordinary movie-goer who was not a Mathematician. Fast-paced and touching upon nuances that reflected the socio-economic relevance of the times without once moving away from the main plot, the movie, based on what some may surmise as a dry subject of Math, was surprisingly entertaining.
The movie also brings out in good measure the racism that was prevalent in Great Britain, including Cambridge, successfully portraying how Ramanujam fought the odds he faced, including the differences in food, dress and the likes - of a person from such a diametrically opposite society as Ramanujum's. The movie even touches upon how the Brahmin class, during those days, was forbidden to cross the seas and therefore, to travel abroad. In fact, after the movie ends, one couldn't help think how there must have been at least someone in Ramanujam's village, who when Ramanujam got back and fell mortally ill, must have spoken about the curse of having crossed the seas.
While the plot largely underlines how Ramanujam, a great mathematician of his times, who was almost being seen in the same league as venerated mathematicians like Eucleid, broke his own cultural binds including the one described above, which forebode him to cross the seas as superstitious beliefs were strong that if anyone were to do such a thing, it would bring in ill-luck.
Mathew Brown, the English director surprises by showcasing his own empathy of the times and lives of both, Tamil Brahmins as well as Britishers, during the early 19th century, set as the script was against the World War I times. The story of the great mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujam is set during this phase of history. From the costume designers and set designers, to the director and the cast, everyone seems to have worked hard to bring out the finer nuances of the times. Apart from highlighting the fact that Ramanujam did not have a strictly formal education as the West saw it (Ramanujam must have been exposed to Vedic Maths belonging as he did to a Tamil Brahmin caste, the then-privileged caste in India), and yet went on to create theorems, which to Ramanjum's credit and feat, are still being studied and deciphered in the 21st century. While watching the movie, one couldn't but help think that the director had done good justice to the script, and presented the times in a manner that may be close to how the 'then' may have been. The brief peeps into a typical Tamil Brahmin household of those days is brought forth by the wonderful acting by Dev Patel as Ramanujam, Arundati Nag as his mother, and Devika Bhise, as his wife. In fact, Devika Bhise playing the role of Ramanujan;s wife was a surprise package. Although her role didn't seem to demand much of her, she does leave a lasting impression. As does her reel mother-in-law - the versatile Arundathi Nag, who as usual gives a sterling performance. Toby Jones who plays Littlewood is endearing to say the least. While on the actors, it must be acknowledged that it is courtesy some fine acting by Dev Patel, the movie is able to showcase so brilliantly the lustrous Mathematician's life including his predicament at having come from the East, struggling against odds including food, clothes, culture shock and lack of family support and yet being able to focus on the work at hand due to his single-minded pursuit of getting his work published. Dev Patel, as the Tamil Brahmin Srinivasan Ramanujan Iyengar, has done a good job. Alhough, at times, it did seem like he was getting intimidated at places by the likes of Jeremy Iron who played his mentor J H Hardy and rather brilliantly in the movie.
But one would have to acknowledge that despite the movie being about Ramanujam, and despite Dév Patel doing good justice to the role, the best actor in the movie was Jeremy Irons as Prof J H Hardy, ably supported by Toby Jones. Jeremy Jones's acting prowess is able to bring out the complex nature of human beings, Playing the role of Professor Hardy, he is able to potray a man who had this veneer of toughness even as he sponsored Ramanujam's travel and stay in Cambridge, perhaps for his won selfish Mathematical reasons, but is also able to brilliantly show how hard nuts have a much a softer inside as Prof Hardy is shown fighting against racial prejudices to help Ramanujam get due recognition and honours for his Mathematical prowess. Not to forget mentioning how he is shown helping Ramanujam get medical aid even after knowing that he was suffering from TB, a much dreaded disease then.
While the movie is certainly about a mathematician, it does not have a boredom-moment. From the youthful days of a much-devout Ramanujam when he spent hours scribbling theorems on the floor of little-visited corners of temples and ruins, to the final journey of a man longing to be back with his wife, the script is taut and to use an oxymoron, resplendent with subplots, including the universal wife-mother-in-law issues, the yearning and longing of a dutiful wife, the World War I making even professors to force-volunteer as soldiers having to fight in the war front and so on, the movie never makes one feel bored.
I enjoyed the movie thoroughly!
The movie also brings out in good measure the racism that was prevalent in Great Britain, including Cambridge, successfully portraying how Ramanujam fought the odds he faced, including the differences in food, dress and the likes - of a person from such a diametrically opposite society as Ramanujum's. The movie even touches upon how the Brahmin class, during those days, was forbidden to cross the seas and therefore, to travel abroad. In fact, after the movie ends, one couldn't help think how there must have been at least someone in Ramanujam's village, who when Ramanujam got back and fell mortally ill, must have spoken about the curse of having crossed the seas.
While the plot largely underlines how Ramanujam, a great mathematician of his times, who was almost being seen in the same league as venerated mathematicians like Eucleid, broke his own cultural binds including the one described above, which forebode him to cross the seas as superstitious beliefs were strong that if anyone were to do such a thing, it would bring in ill-luck.
Mathew Brown, the English director surprises by showcasing his own empathy of the times and lives of both, Tamil Brahmins as well as Britishers, during the early 19th century, set as the script was against the World War I times. The story of the great mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujam is set during this phase of history. From the costume designers and set designers, to the director and the cast, everyone seems to have worked hard to bring out the finer nuances of the times. Apart from highlighting the fact that Ramanujam did not have a strictly formal education as the West saw it (Ramanujam must have been exposed to Vedic Maths belonging as he did to a Tamil Brahmin caste, the then-privileged caste in India), and yet went on to create theorems, which to Ramanjum's credit and feat, are still being studied and deciphered in the 21st century. While watching the movie, one couldn't but help think that the director had done good justice to the script, and presented the times in a manner that may be close to how the 'then' may have been. The brief peeps into a typical Tamil Brahmin household of those days is brought forth by the wonderful acting by Dev Patel as Ramanujam, Arundati Nag as his mother, and Devika Bhise, as his wife. In fact, Devika Bhise playing the role of Ramanujan;s wife was a surprise package. Although her role didn't seem to demand much of her, she does leave a lasting impression. As does her reel mother-in-law - the versatile Arundathi Nag, who as usual gives a sterling performance. Toby Jones who plays Littlewood is endearing to say the least. While on the actors, it must be acknowledged that it is courtesy some fine acting by Dev Patel, the movie is able to showcase so brilliantly the lustrous Mathematician's life including his predicament at having come from the East, struggling against odds including food, clothes, culture shock and lack of family support and yet being able to focus on the work at hand due to his single-minded pursuit of getting his work published. Dev Patel, as the Tamil Brahmin Srinivasan Ramanujan Iyengar, has done a good job. Alhough, at times, it did seem like he was getting intimidated at places by the likes of Jeremy Iron who played his mentor J H Hardy and rather brilliantly in the movie.
But one would have to acknowledge that despite the movie being about Ramanujam, and despite Dév Patel doing good justice to the role, the best actor in the movie was Jeremy Irons as Prof J H Hardy, ably supported by Toby Jones. Jeremy Jones's acting prowess is able to bring out the complex nature of human beings, Playing the role of Professor Hardy, he is able to potray a man who had this veneer of toughness even as he sponsored Ramanujam's travel and stay in Cambridge, perhaps for his won selfish Mathematical reasons, but is also able to brilliantly show how hard nuts have a much a softer inside as Prof Hardy is shown fighting against racial prejudices to help Ramanujam get due recognition and honours for his Mathematical prowess. Not to forget mentioning how he is shown helping Ramanujam get medical aid even after knowing that he was suffering from TB, a much dreaded disease then.
While the movie is certainly about a mathematician, it does not have a boredom-moment. From the youthful days of a much-devout Ramanujam when he spent hours scribbling theorems on the floor of little-visited corners of temples and ruins, to the final journey of a man longing to be back with his wife, the script is taut and to use an oxymoron, resplendent with subplots, including the universal wife-mother-in-law issues, the yearning and longing of a dutiful wife, the World War I making even professors to force-volunteer as soldiers having to fight in the war front and so on, the movie never makes one feel bored.
I enjoyed the movie thoroughly!
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