Introduction
What pulls you to watch a movie at the cinema? For some, it could be the actors, music, characters, director, or the beautiful scenery they show in the previews. For this article, I wanted to talk about another movie character. I, personally, am motivated to watch a movie after watching the types of characters they show in the previews. The quirkier they are, the better. However, what would you call a character who sticks with you even after the end credits begin to roll? Like many, I would call them memorable. One such character was Rancho.
Also known as Phunksukh Wangdu or simply Rancho. The movie directed by Rajkumar Hirani was released in 2009, and even now, the film remains fresh in everyone’s minds. Especially students still in school. Rancho was unique, optimistic, and unconventional when looking at the education system. Something his professors did not appreciate. If you read my previous article on Meeta from Hasee Toh Phasee, you would know that Rancho also exhibits some qualities of the Aquarius zodiac sign. If you don’t believe me, read this short snippet from one of the songs(Beheti Hawa sa tha Woh)
“While the paths always led us, He always made his own path. Sometimes fell sometime balance, but always went ahead cheerfully.”
Out of the Box
At the beginning of the film, Rancho was an intelligent inventor who tried to make and fix whatever machine he came across. Some of the greatest inventors in history have ironically been Aquarians. Moreover, Rancho’s perspective on the education system was shown to be very unique to other students. If other students were curious to find the answer, Rancho wanted to know why the problem was set up like that in the first place. He believed that one should not chase success but excellence. Because if a person pursues excellence, striving to be the best they can possibly be in the field of their choosing, success will come much easier to someone.
Rancho was not appreciated by the University’s director, Dr. Viru Sahastrabhuddhe(Virus), because of his thinking and blunt, outspoken nature. Rancho was the biggest rule breaker in the school and always set his own rules. Rule-breaking always puts him in funny situations throughout the film. Yet immediately gets out of them through funny methods, literally raising the blood pressure of the professors and panic amongst his peers.
All of these instances relate significantly to an Aquarians out of box thinking. For one, Aquarius people love ideas for themselves. Their motto is “I don’t care if you don’t like it, I like it.” Aquarius love using their minds and breaking down a problem into smaller pieces. Something Rancho did whenever he got his hands on a new machine. If, like Rancho, we believe analyzing problems is our way of life, new breakthroughs can occur in one’s life.
Furthermore, Aquarius people know that old pieces can never make something new. We dive into the unknown. Or like Rancho, literally dipping into a garbage can to fix a plane the school’s director believes is impractical. We need to strive beyond the limitations we set for ourselves and the ones society imposes on us.
Optimistic
Apart from being a great thinker, Rancho was also an overall optimistic person in the face of difficulty. His quote “all is well” is one thing many people, including myself, have taken away from the film. No matter how tough life seems to you, place your hand on your heart and tell it that “all is well.” This gives you the courage to face your problems rather than being scared to meet them. For example, Rancho had a tough childhood growing up. Yet his dream since the sixth grade was to become an engineer and learn everything about it. His optimism and passion reached such a high peak that he could solve grade ten math problems even though being four grades behind. Aquarius optimism is generally high due to us being motivated by idealism. They can adapt quickly to any new situation.
Initial Detachment
Even though multiple scenes throughout the film showed Rancho’s optimism and passion, he was pretty innocent when it came to love. And this is generally a weakness for Aquarians, as we tend to be commitment-phobic. He fears throughout the move that if two people were to kiss, then their noses might “get in the way.” He also gets confused on how to handle a drunken Pia who attempts to kiss him. Even towards the end of the movie, when Pia gives him a kiss, he still remains confused about what to do and say(Trust Aquarians to make things weird). Although funny, this phrase is actually profound. If you have watched the film, then one would know that this phrase represents Rancho’s fear that if he commits to Pia, then the promise he made to his “family” will be broken.
Although detached initially from relationships, once Aquarians promise to commit, they remain loyal to their significant other and friends for life. In the song “Jaane nahin denge tujhe,” Rancho wears a blood-stained t-shirt and leading a group of ambulances after his friend Raju tried to commit suicide. He frantically tries to clear the cars coming their way, and it makes your heart go out to all the characters in the scene. This scene shows his two best friends were his most powerful support systems and the most important people in his life. So how could an Aquarian like Rancho leave them out of his life?
Conclusion
3 idiots and the character Rancho gave me the motivation and confidence to pursue the things I am generally in love with. Rancho hit our heartstrings for many reasons. He usually didn’t use big words when talking, was not jacked by steroids, and had this positive energy that every viewer felt while watching the film. And I want to thank Mr. Aamir Khan for bringing these qualities to life on the big screen.
Rancho taught people about living their lives to the fullest, keeping the right people around you, and how “All is well” is all you need when going forward on an unknown path. If I had to sum up Ranchos’s lessons, it would be 1. Do everything with a passion. 2. Show an interest in everything and anything. 3. When life gets challenging, breathe and say, “All is well.”
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