His love for mathematics cut through the shackles of poverty. Despite being dismissed by Indian academics, Srinivasa Ramanujan found recognition in England, when he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London.
But Ramanujan’s illustrious life came to an early end when he died aged 33 in 1920.
Bringing alive his life story on screen is Gnana Rajasekaran, Tamil filmmaker and three-time National award winner.
Titled Ramanujan and produced by Camphor Cinema, this film features Abhinay Vaddi (grandson of yesteryear actors Gemini Ganesan and Savitri) in the title role. Noted actress Suhasini Maniratnam plays Ramanujan’s mother Komalatammal while Malayalam actress Bhama is Ramanujan’s wife Janaki.
Set in the 1900s, the film traces the great mathematician’s life from Erode in Tamil Nadu where he was born to Kumbakonam where he grew up, following him to the Madras Port Trust, where he worked as a clerk before leaving for Cambridge.
British stage actor Kevin McGowan plays Professor G.H. Hardy who recognised the genius in Ramanujan. Other members of the cast include Nizhalgal Ravi, Radha Ravi, Y.G. Mahendran, Sharath Babu as well as Michael Lieber, Richard Walsh, Cloudia Swann and Lizzie Bourne. Costumes were designed by Shakuntala Rajashekaran. Ramesh Vinayagam has scored the music. Cinematographer Sunny Joseph, who won the Kerala State award for Piravi, has wielded the camera.
With an inspiring story and helmed by the director of Tamil films Bharati and Periyar, this is one biopic that is eagerly awaited.
