The Human Side of Genius: A Review of “The Man Who Knew Infinity”

The Human Side of Genius

This isn’t your typical genius-makes-it-big story. Ramanujan (Dev Patel), a young math genius from Madras, wasn’t just smart; his ideas came from someplace deep and mysterious, a kind of inner vision. And when he crossed paths with G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons), a brilliant but rigid British academic, something incredible happened. Two very different minds—one intuitive and spiritual, the other rational and exacting—collided. Somehow, it worked. Together, they reshaped what was possible.

Pushing Through the Storm

Ramanujan’s journey isn’t smooth. Not even close. He leaves behind everything he knows—his wife, his mother, his culture—to chase a dream in a place that barely understands him. His health suffers. His soul aches. Still, he keeps going because the math is calling. And because proving he’s right becomes more than academic—it becomes survival. Instead of breaking under pressure, Ramanujan digs in. He adapts. He learns the language of proofs, even though his math doesn’t come from textbooks—it comes from somewhere else entirely. In the end, he doesn’t just survive; he leaves a mark the world still hasn’t erased.

More Than Numbers

At the heart of this film is the unlikely bond between Ramanujan and Hardy. It starts out awkward, even combative. Hardy lives by structure and logic. Ramanujan trusts his instincts, his gods, and a kind of sacred math that comes to him in dreams. They’re opposites in almost every way.

But something shifts. Slowly, painfully, they find common ground—not just in math, but in mutual respect. It’s messy. It’s human. And it’s real. Hardy goes from skeptic to advocate, even putting his own reputation on the line to back Ramanujan’s work. You don’t see that kind of loyalty every day.

What makes this film stand out isn’t just the math (though that’s fascinating too). It’s how honestly it deals with people—their doubts, their pride, their capacity to change. Both men are flawed. Both are brilliant. Together, they create something bigger than either could have done alone.

Where Insight Meets Proof

Ramanujan’s genius was raw and powerful, but it didn’t always fit into the neat boxes of Western academia. Hardy knew that. He pushed Ramanujan to support his insights with proof—not to control him, but to help the world take his work seriously. And Ramanujan, for all his resistance, rose to the challenge.

The film doesn’t pit intuition against logic. It shows that they need each other. One sparks the idea; the other gives it form. Without Ramanujan’s visions, there’s no discovery. Without Hardy’s discipline, there’s no recognition. Together, they found a strange rhythm. Messy, brilliant, necessary.

A Quiet Force

At its core, The Man Who Knew Infinity isn’t really about math. It’s about people. About reaching across divides—cultural, emotional, even spiritual—and trying to be understood. Ramanujan’s life is a testament to the power of belief: in yourself, in your work, and in the people who choose to stand beside you.

This movie lingers. It reminds you that brilliance can come from the most unexpected places—and that sometimes, the hardest battles aren’t fought with others, but within yourself.

A Personal Reflection

First off, Dev Patel brings this quiet intensity to the role that made me forget I was watching an actor. You can feel the frustration, the loneliness, but also this deep, almost sacred connection to numbers. Like math was more than numbers for him. It was something divine.

And Jeremy Irons as Hardy? He’s this cold, brilliant, kind-of-awkward guy, but underneath all the British stiffness, there’s something deeply human going on. Their relationship was honestly the heart of the film for me. Two completely different people trying to bridge this massive cultural, emotional, and intellectual gap. It’s not always comfortable to watch — and I don’t think it’s meant to be.

Visually, the film is beautiful in this understated way. Lots of dark lecture halls, rainy Cambridge paths, and quiet moments. The atmosphere feels heavy, but not depressing. More like… reflective.

Now, I won’t lie — if you’re looking for fast-paced or action-y, this ain’t it. There’s a lot of talking. A lot of blackboards. But there’s also so much feeling packed in there. Frustration, awe, homesickness, ambition, doubt. It kind of sneaks up on you.

I do wish they went even deeper into Ramanujan’s inner world. Like, we get glimpses — his devotion, his faith, the way equations come to him like visions — but I wanted more of that spiritual side. It’s hinted at, but not fully explored. Maybe that was intentional, I don’t know.

Go watch it. Maybe not when you’re sleepy, but definitely when you want something real.

Not Just Smart Movies — Human Ones

If The Man Who Knew Infinity left you feeling inspired, a little haunted, and a lot curious, these three films will probably hit similar notes. They’re not just about brilliance — they’re about what it costs to be brilliant in a world that doesn’t always understand. And they’re about struggle, faith, connection, and that whole beautiful mess of being human.

1. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Yeah, I know — kind of a classic at this point, but it’s so worth a rewatch if it’s been a while. Like The Man Who Knew Infinity, this one digs into the price of genius — what it costs you, what it gives you, and how the world reacts to it.

2. The Theory of Everything (2014)

This one’s about Stephen Hawking — but it’s not just equations and black holes. It digs into his life. The young guy behind the brain. His love story with Jane, the heartbreak, the fight. And how, even as his body started shutting down, his mind just kept reaching for the stars. Eddie Redmayne is incredible in this. Like, spooky good.

You see someone chasing ideas bigger than themselves, while also navigating love, loss, and the hard edges of being human. It’s quiet and powerful and, yeah, probably gonna make you tear up a little.

3. Hidden Figures (2016)

Totally different setting, same heart. This one follows three Black women mathematicians — Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson — who worked at NASA during the space race. It’s got brains, history, and so much soul.

Like Ramanujan, these women were brilliant but constantly underestimated — not because of their work, but because of who they were. There’s injustice, yes, but also triumph, friendship, and moments that’ll make you want to fist-pump your way through the final act.

Plus, the pacing’s a bit lighter, so it’s a great watch when you want something inspiring but not too heavy.