Ramanujan

My review: Ramanujan

Ramanujan is a great person, and one must applaud a movie made on him. But why can't the makers pay a fitting tribute to the legend by making a movie that is professional in its approach and making. Gnana Rakasekharan's "Ramanujan" is a biographical film based on the life of prodigiously talented Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Director who has made better biographical movies on poet Bharathiyar and Periyar E.V.Ramasamy falters this time. Main problem with this movie is it's lackadaisical screenplay and at times amateurish direction.  

The script is too shallow that it looks as if the Wikipedia page on the mathematical genius might have been it's source. There is no proper staging of any events or anecdotes on the contrary appear to be a mere statement of them in a theatrical format. For example, instead of by the virtue of proper screenplay, conception and visualization of the misery and struggle Ramanujan had to undergo in his early days of mathematical research, all that we get to see or rather hear is each and every character sympathizing with him and Ramanujan character himself stating the miseries he is undergoing repeatedly. Also instead showcasing the genius that he is through the visual medium, all that we get to see is each and every one staring at his notebooks and claiming what a genius he is. Movie alternates between these two prototype scenes all through the first half. You would get a feel of watching a hurriedly staged college drama by amateurs.  

Second half is all about how he struggled with not being able to get vegetarian food and how he kept on dreaming numbers. The main problem is movie is didactic which leaves it difficult for the viewers to keep oneself engrossed to the screen. After a point it all becomes tiring. Another problem is acting by the lead protagonist who plays the titular character, Abhinay Vaddi. He wears the same expression throughout the movie, and lacks acting repertoire. Thankfully movie has others who are capable actors who try to redeem the movie watching experience a bit. Suhasini is excellent and Bhama is good. The duo keep you awake whenever they are on screen. The background artists are mere set props who just stare at the camera and chuckle now and then for no reason at all, testament to amateurishness of the direction. 

Movie's background score is pedestrian while couple of songs by Ramesh Vinayagam is hummable. Movie is technically tacky, may be the result of budget. One can excuse the technical making part but the scripting, staging and acting must have been on par if the makers' intended for a fitting tribute to the genius. But in the end one can't help but walk out with the thought that the genius deserved better.      

Bottomline: Tacky biography.

2/5