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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Santhosam Santhosam

From Youth · 2002

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Mani Sharma
Details
Youth2002

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{ Santhosam santhosam{ Happiness, happiness
Vaazhkaiyin paathi balamIs half the strength of life
Santhosam illai endralIf there is no happiness
Manitharku yethu balamWhat strength does a human have?
Male
Puyal maiyam kondaalWhen a storm gathers at the center
Mazhai mannil unduRain falls upon the earth
Entha theemai kullumWithin every evil thing
Siru nanmai undu } (2)There exists a small good } (2)
Ooh oooh oooh ooooh oohOoh oooh oooh ooooh ooh
Male
Vetriyai polaevaeJust like victory
Oru thozhviyum nallathadiA defeat is also good, my girl
Vepam poovilumEven in a neem flower
Siru thaenthuli ullathadiThere is a small drop of honey, my girl
Male
Kutram sollaamalWithout finding fault
Oru sutram illaiyadiThere is no family/kin, my girl
Ilaiyum punnagaiyaalWith a youthful smile
Nee irutuku vellaiyadiYou are a bright light to the darkness, my girl
Male
Thavarugal panni panniMaking mistakes repeatedly
Thirunthiya piraguthaanOnly after reforming oneself
Naagarigam piranthadhadiCivilization was born, my girl
Male
Thavarugal kutram allaMistakes are not crimes
Sarivugal veezhchi illaSetbacks are not downfalls
Paadampadi pavala kodiLearn the lesson, coral creeper
Male
Ullam enbathu kavalaigalThe mind is not
Nirapum kuppai thotti illaiA dustbin to fill with worries
Ullam enbathu poonthotti aanaalIf the mind becomes a flowerpot
Naazhai thunbam illaiThere will be no sorrow tomorrow
Male
Puyal maiyam kondaalWhen a storm gathers at the center
Mazhai mannil unduRain falls upon the earth
Entha theemai kullumWithin every evil thing
Siru nanmai unduThere exists a small good
Ooh oooh oooh ooooh oohOoh oooh oooh ooooh ooh
Male
Aadhiyil aandavanIn the beginning, God
Indha boomiyai padaithaanaeCreated this earth
Avan aasaiyai polaevaeJust as per his desire
Indha boomi amaiyalaiyaeThis earth was not formed
Male
Aandavan aasaiyaeWhen God's own desire
Ingu poiyai poividilHas turned out to be false here
Manithanin aasaigalAre human desires
Meiyavathu saathiyamaCapable of becoming reality?
Nanmai endrum theemai endrumAs good and as bad
Naalu pergal solluvathuWhat four people say
Nammudaiya pizhai illaiyaeIs not our fault
Male
Thoonbamendra sirpikulthaanOnly inside the oyster called sorrow
Inbamendra muthu varumThe pearl called happiness emerges
Thuninthapin bayam illaiyaeOnce you take courage, there is no fear
Male
Kanneer thuliyil vairangalDiamonds out of tear drops
Seiyum kalaigal kandukolLearn the art of crafting them
Kaaluku serupu eppadi vanthadhuHow did footwear come for the feet?
Mulluku nandri solSay thanks to the thorn
Male
Puyal maiyam kondaalWhen a storm gathers at the center
Mazhai mannil unduRain falls upon the earth
Entha theemai kullumWithin every evil thing
Siru nanmai unduThere exists a small good
Ooh oooh oooh ooooh oohOoh oooh oooh ooooh ooh
Male
Santhosam santhosamHappiness, happiness
Vaazhkaiyin paathi balamIs half the strength of life
Santhosam illai endralIf there is no happiness
Manitharku yethu balamWhat strength does a human have?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Santhosam Santhosam from the movie Youth (2002) is a celebrated motivational song written by Vairamuthu and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam under Mani Sharma's musical composition. The song serves as a practical philosophy on life, urging listeners to maintain an optimistic spirit and view failures not as fatal downfalls, but as necessary stepping stones for human progress and civilization.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Thoonbamendra sirpikulthaan / Inbamendra muthu varum

Compares sorrow to an oyster that yields the pearl of happiness, and the mind to a flowerpot rather than a dustbin.

Contrast / Imagery

Vepam poovilum / Siru thaenthuli ullathadi

Uses the bitter neem flower holding a sweet drop of honey to show that every unpleasant experience carries good within it.

Irony / Cause-and-Effect Logic

Kaaluku serupu eppadi vanthadhu / Mulluku nandri sol

Attributes the invention of shoes for human protection directly to the pain inflicted by thorns, teaching gratitude towards hardships.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track was originally composed by Mani Sharma for the Telugu film Chiru Navvuto (2000) as 'Sonthamite' and was recreated for its Tamil remake Youth starring Vijay. S. P. Balasubrahmanyam's energetic rendition combined with Vairamuthu's insightful lyrics made it a widely cited inspirational anthem across Tamil Nadu.

Keep listening

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