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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Secret of Success

From Boys · 2003

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Lucky Ali, Vasundhara Das, Clinton Cerejo, Blaaze
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Boys2003

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Hey…Hey…
Chorus :Hey…Chorus: Hey…
Male :Heyyy…Male: Heyyy…
Chorus :Heyyy..Chorus: Heyyy..
Female :Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy….Female: Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy….
Chorus :Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…..Chorus: Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…..
Male
Say sa..Say sa..
Chorus :SaChorus: Sa
Male :Say ri..Male: Say ri..
Chorus :RiChorus: Ri
Male :Say ga..Male: Say ga..
Chorus :GaChorus: Ga
Male :Say mae..Male: Say mae..
Chorus :What?Chorus: What?
Male
Maathi yosieThink differently
Female :Maathi yosieFemale: Think differently
Chorus :Maathi yosie …maathi yosieChorus: Think differently… think differently
Maathi yosie ..maathi yosieThink differently… think differently
Maathi yosie …maathi yosieThink differently… think differently
Female :That’s what we sayFemale: That's what we say
Male
Ho hooo….ohhoo…hooooo….Ho hooo….ohhoo…hooooo….
Male
{Sa ri ga mae pa dha ni se{Sa ri ga ma pa dha ni sa
Maathi yosieThink differently
That’s what we say} (2)That's what we say} (2)
Male
KettukoListen up
Luck kaal kiloQuarter kilo of luck
Loss kaal kiloQuarter kilo of loss
Labour kaal kiloQuarter kilo of hard work
SethukkoMix them together
Bakthi kaal kiloQuarter kilo of devotion
Hope kaal kiloQuarter kilo of hope
Talent Kaal kiloQuarter kilo of talent
Male
Sa ri ga mae pa dha ni seSa ri ga ma pa dha ni sa
Maathi yosieThink differently
Maathi yosieThink differently
That’s what we sayThat's what we say
Male
Indha isai sondha isaiThis music is our own music
Imsaiyilae vandha isaiMusic born out of tribulations
Chorus
{We wake it..{We wake it..
Jus take it..} (2)Just take it..} (2)
Chorus
We are the boys… (4)We are the boys… (4)
Male
Kutti suvar yeri vetti kadhai pesiSitting on broken walls, chit-chatting aimlessly
Kaadhal jolly-il paadam gaali thozhaIn the fun of romance, studies were ruined, my friend
Adolescent age-il andha sugam thediSeeking pleasures during adolescent age
Soodu pattu ponom thozhaWe got burnt and learned the lesson, friend
Female
Thappaana rout-il sendruGoing on the wrong route
Rightaana routai kandomWe discovered the right route
Mistakes are the secret of successMistakes are the secret of success
Female
Naam odi ponomWe eloped
Ulagam purindhadhuWe understood the world
Male :AvalukkaagavaeMale: For her sake alone
Uzhaikka therindhadhuWe learned how to work hard
Male & Female :Love is the secret of successMale & Female: Love is the secret of success
Male
Sa ri ga mae pa dha ni seSa ri ga ma pa dha ni se
Se seSa sa
Maathi yosieThink differently
Se seSa sa
That’s what we sayThat's what we say
YeahYeah
Male
Sa ri ga mae pa dha ni seSa ri ga ma pa dha ni se
Chorus :Sa ri ga mae pa dha ni seChorus: Sa ri ga ma pa dha ni se
Male :Maathi yosieMale: Think differently
Chorus :Maathi yosieChorus: Think differently
Male :That’s what we sayMale: That's what we say
Chorus :That’s what we sayChorus: That's what we say
Chorus
Here we comeinHere we come in
Yeah we coming up with something andYeah we coming up with something and
You know that we are bringing it to number 1You know that we are bringing it to number 1
Full of fun and laughterFull of fun and laughter
Comein lil fasterComing a little faster
Yeah you know we are number oneYeah you know we are number one
Chorus
Kurangena udumbenaLike a monkey, like a monitor lizard
Pudichadha pudi pudiHold tight to what you catch
Adikkadi varuma sandharppamWill opportunities come frequently?
Announce panni varumaWill it come after making an announcement?
Label otti varumaWill it come with a label stuck on it?
Oru naal varumda seize that dayA day will come, friend, seize that day
Male
Sa ri ga mae pa dha ni seSa ri ga ma pa dha ni se
Maathi yosieThink differently
Maathi yosieThink differently
That’s what we sayThat's what we say
Male
Indha isai sondha isaiThis music is our own music
Imsaiyilae vandha isaiMusic born out of tribulations
Chorus
Blade dhaan bore dhaanIt was boring and sharp/painful
Kashtam dhaan nashtam dhaanIt was full of hardship and loss
Irundhaalum adichu solven dhaanEven so, I will state with certainty
Vetrikkoru secret vetrikkoru shortcutA secret for success, a shortcut for success
Nermai nermai nermai dhaanHonesty, honesty, honesty alone!
Chorus
Ohooo…oooo…hoooo…oooooOhooo…oooo…hoooo…ooooo
Ohooo…oooo…hoooo…oooooOhooo…oooo…hoooo…ooooo
Ohooo…oooo…hoooo…oooooOhooo…oooo…hoooo…ooooo
Male :Ohoo nermai dhaan vetriyin ragasiyamaeMale: Ohoo, honesty is the secret of success
Chorus :Ohooo…oooo…hoooo…oooooChorus: Ohooo…oooo…hoooo…ooooo
Female :Saa ree gaa mae..Female: Saa ree gaa mae..
Male :Saa ree gaa mae..Male: Saa ree gaa mae..
Female :Saa ree gaa mae..Female: Saa ree gaa mae..
Male :Ohoo nermai dhaan vetriyin ragasiyamae ….Male: Ohoo, honesty is the secret of success...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Secret of Success' (Maathi Yosie) from the film Boys (2003) is a youthful, energetic anthem composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by legendary poet Vaali. The song represents the youth's perspective on life, mistakes, learning, and unconventional pathfinding. It emphasizes thinking differently ('Maathi Yosie') and combining hard work, talent, devotion, and hope instead of relying purely on luck.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second letter rhyming)

“Indha isai sondha isai / Imsaiyilae vandha isai”

The second letters 'dha' in 'Indha' and 'm' in 'Imsaiyilae' create rhythmic rhyme in Tamil poetry structure.

Simile / Analogy

“Kurangena udumbena / Pudichadha pudi pudi”

Comparing holding onto opportunities like a monkey or monitor lizard gripping tightly.

Repetition / Anaphora

“Nermai nermai nermai dhaan”

Repetition of key words like 'Maathi Yosie' and 'Nermai' to emphasize the central theme of thinking out of the box and honesty.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for Shankar's 2003 youth film 'Boys', this track featured a vibrant ensemble of singers including Shankar Mahadevan, Vasundhara Das, Blaaze, Karthik, and Lucky Ali. The song famously popularised the phrase 'Maathi Yosie' (Think Differently) in Tamil pop culture.

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