(Author's Note : Please CLICK above PLAY button to listen to the song "Javoon Kahan Bataa Ai Dil" from Film : Chhoti Bahen of 1959 which I played on my Flute. This song was written by Shailendra and composed by Maestro MDs Shankar-Jaikishen and is based on Raga : Jhinjhoti. I am sure you will like my Flute rendering. Please post a comment with your feedback).

This is a very very sad song which is picturized on Actor Rehman after he looses all his money in Horce Racing and returns home empty handed. Also Rehman has strained relations with his own elder brother Balraj Sahani and youngest sister Nanda due to dominating nature of his wife portrayed by Shyama. So at this point, Rehman is in utter dispair. No wonder Shankar had to tender a very sad tone to his composition "Javoon Kahan".

Most likely this song was composed by Shankar (just a guess, since lyrics were written by Shailendra and Shankar always preferred Shailendra and Jaikishen always preferred Hasrat Jaipuri). Shankar was able to bring out pathos very accurately by composing this song on Raga Jhinjhoti. Really an unforgettable song indeed. Even after 49 years of composition, this song is not forgotten and continues to live in the memory of millions of Hindi film music fans all over the world. This song was rendered brilliantly by Dard Bhare Singer Mukesh Saab.

Song: Javoon kahan bata ai dil
Film: Choti Bahen
Year: 1959
Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri
Singer: Mukesh
Music Director: Shankar-Jaikishen
Based on Raga: Jhinjhoti
Lyrics of the song:

Javoon kahan bata ai dil, duniya badi hain sangdil
Chandani ayi ghar jalane, sujhe na koyi manzil
Javoon kahan bata ai dil…

Ban ke toote yahan, arzoo ke mahal
Ye zameen asmaan, bhi gaye hain badal
Kehati hain, zindagi, is jahan se nikal
Javoon kahan bata ai dil…

Haaye is paar to, aansovon ki dagar
Jane us paar kya, hain kise ye khabar
Thokaren, kha rahin, har kadam pe nazar
Javoon kahan bata ai dil…

Approximate meaning of the song:

Oh Heart! (Out of sadness) tell me where can I go? This world is very cruel. The stars/moon have come out to lighten the house. But I cannot think of any destination.

We dream and build palace of desires (within our dreams) and then it collapses. This earth and the sky both have changed their tone. Now life is telling me to get out of this cruel world. On one side, I see the path full of tears (sorrow), and on the other side, I do not know what is in the fore. At every step, my sight is getting hit (with obstacles). 

Few Hindi Film Songs based on Raga Jhinjhoti are as follows:

1. Mere Mehboob Tujhe  (Film : Mere Mehboob)
2. Teri Ankhon Ke Siva Duniya Me Rakkha Kya Hai (Film : Chirag)
3. Ghungaroo Ki Tarah (Film : Chor Machaye Shor)
4. Ja Ja Re Ja , Balamwa (Film : Basant Bahar)