The Man Who Knew Infinity is a 2015 biographical drama about the life of the legendary Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Based on the 1991 book by Robert Kanigel, the film stars Dev Patel as Ramanujan and Jeremy Irons as his mentor, G.H. Hardy.
The collaboration between the stoic, atheistic Hardy and the deeply spiritual Ramanujan became one of the most famous partnerships in scientific history. Together, they made groundbreaking contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, and infinite series. However, the physical toll of the war and the isolation of living abroad severely weakened Ramanujan's health.
Why Watch: It is a touching exploration of friendship across cultures and the pure passion for discovery. It beautifully illustrates how Ramanujan viewed mathematics as a divine language. Where to Watch Legally
In 1914, Ramanujan left his wife and mother to travel to Trinity College, Cambridge. The transition was grueling. He faced the cold English climate, the strict social hierarchies of academia, and the difficulty of maintaining his strict vegetarian diet during World War I. While Hardy insisted on rigorous proofs for every discovery, Ramanujan often claimed his insights were divine inspirations from his family goddess, Namagiri Thayar.
For those interested in watching "Ramanujan," the film is available on Netflix. You can also support the film by purchasing or renting it from legitimate sources.
The story begins in the early 1900s in Kumbakonam, where Ramanujan lived as a young Tamil Brahmin. Despite having no formal training in pure mathematics, he filled notebooks with thousands of original theorems. Living in poverty and struggling to find employment that allowed him to focus on his work, he eventually wrote to G.H. Hardy, a premier mathematician at Cambridge University. Recognizing the raw brilliance in the formulas, Hardy invited Ramanujan to England.