I have to form myself,
as I have never really formed before,
and try to help you to form some sort of reasoned estimate
of the most romantic figure
in the recent history of mathematics.
Ramanujan was an Indian,
and I suppose that it is always a little difficult
for an Englishman and an Indian
to understand one another properly.
I owe more to him than to anyone else in the world,
and my association with
him is the one romantic incident of my life.
He was, in a way, my discovery.
I did not invent him.
Like other great men, he invented himself.
The difficulty for me, then,
is not that I do not know enough about him,
but that I know and feel too much.
You can also see I've been conducting
my own mathematical researches.
You've no degree. You're unemployable.
I'll write you a recommendation. Maybe someone...
With all due respect, sir, I have recommendations.
What I need is a job.
Please. I have a wife.
You people are all the same.
Now get out. Now!
I'm doomed, like Galileo.
He died in poverty, you know.
At least you hold yourself in good esteem.
Whatever is written in your fate will happen.
You can't change that.
My fate is to have a wife who lives with my mother
while I sleep here with you all because
the British think I'm a raving lunatic.
As do we Indians.
Where did you get your degree?
I don't have one.
- How many do you have? - None.
- Who else have you shown this to? - Everyone.
The British. The Indians. They all send me to someone else.
I can offer you a job,
but your evenings will have
to be spent in helping me understand this.
A job?
- Do we have an agreement? - Yes.
- Most certainly, sir. - Good.
Send for your wife so you can be together.
And put this on.
Follow me.
Sir Francis, here are today's ledgers.
And our new clerk.
Narayana, how long have you worked for me?
Since I helped to design the bridge on the Godavari,
which now requires me to call you "sir".
Sir Francis.
This man looks as if he lives on the streets.
- Get him out of here. - Sir, please.
Forgive my appearance,
but I really am quite exceptional with numbers.
What you might see now is ordinary glass,
I promise you will soon remain to see a diamond.
Well...
Your accounts had better be half as polished as your ego.
Amma, this is it.
It's the best I could do for now.
It's a home.
Please.
Where is the kitchen?
It's inside.
From the wedding.
Don't worry. I will sleep on the floor.
I'm used to it.
I have to go back to work now.
Why aren't you using the abacus?
It was faster in my head.
Impressive.
If Sir Francis comes here, at least pretend to use this.
I see you've been working on your own formulas.
Paper is a precious commodity here.
You'll find plenty of packing down at the docks.
Thank you, sir.
See you tonight.
Ramanujan,
we need to seek an audience
with someone who really understands all this.
I've been to everyone in Madras.
Madras.
Did you know that the name derives from Mandarajya?
"The realm of the stupid."
There's a whole world out there.
And there's England.
You don't come home.
It is I who owe the apology for keeping him.
I think it's enough for tonight, Ramanujan.
I'm sorry.
I was told you love numbers more than people.
Some.
Not you.
Perhaps we can start over.
I am Ramanujan.
And I am your wife.
Go ahead. You can look.
Please.
What does it all do?
It's like a painting, I think.