As a young boy when he used to hear songs, he used to hum along with them. Everyone used to say this boy should go to Bombay as his voice was very good. The thought of becoming an actor entered his mind as well.
The first film was Saaed-e-Hawas, a historical and the music director was the classical musician Bundu Khan popularly known as "Taan-Talwar" Bundu Khan. The song was a popular ghazal and the words went something like this "Mastonko shem farz hai peena Sharab ka, gutti mein meri padh gaya qatara sharab ka." With this Durrani got a job with salary of Rs 35 per month at Minerva. During those days playback system was not there and one had to act on screen. He didn't like running around trees and refused to work further. He faced a lot of difficulties and could not return as people would call him a “Kanjar”. Minerva was to close down soon too. He soon joined the Delhi Radio Station. He was working at the Delhi Radio Station where he got acquainted with poet Behzad Lakhnavi whose many ghazals had been sung by Begum Akhtar. He later shifted to the Mumbai Radio Station where he met a big personality at the time, whom he considered one of his ustad, Zaide Bukhari who helped him a lot. His salary was fixed at Rs 40 per month. Here he was working as a drama artist. He was soon counted as one of the best drama artist on the radio those days. Over a period of three years his salary had gone upto Rs 70 per month. But fate would soon call him back to films.
By 1939-40 playback singing had been introduced in the films and he got the opportunity to sing for a movie called Bahurani. The film's composer was his Guru, Rafeeq Gazanavi. He was paid Rs 75 for the song while he was paid Rs 70 monthly at the radio station. On 31st December, 1940 he bid adieu to his radio job and decided to concentrate fully on his film career.
He became friends with an upcoming composer at the time called Naushad Ali. He gave him an offer to sing for a movie he was composing called Darshan. The movie had a chorus song, Oh Pardesi Babu Aate Jaate Rehna. Famous artists Prem Adeeb, Jyoti and an artist called Ghosh were singing in it. There was another artist Shaaqir in the film who didn't know how to sing. His playback was given to G.M. Durrani. The song was a hit and he became famous. In the same movie, Durrani also got to sing two duets with Mira also. The famous actress Jyoti who sang with him was impressed by the handsome pathan with the wonderful voice. Her real name was Sitara Begum. They fell in love and both got married soon.
Sharda saw two solos by him. One of these, Duniya Mein Sab Jode Jode Ashiq Phiren Nigode was really appreciated by the filmgoers. The effect of his voice was mesmerising them. This song was played on Radio Ceylon for years to come due to its requests. His other solo, It Jaaye Ut Jaaye Nazariya was also appreciated. Naushad didn't forget to repeat his winning combo of Rajkumari-Durrani in Station Master also which had them singing Baras Gayi Raam Badariya Kaari. By now the style of Durrani was in full form. It was to inspire Rafi and others in the years to come. The soulful renditions of Durrani were to be reminded of by Talat's singing as well.
Even though his sung number of songs is in hundreds (according to an estimate 300+), the kind of imagery and quality he brought to hindi film singing is amazing. After 1952 his career started declining thiugh his songs continued to release as late as 1966. It is indeed a big loss for us that he stopped singing as his voice continued to be good for years. When one hears him singing in 1981 for the Mortal Men Immortal Melodies, one finds his voice was still a force to reckon with. Indeed, it is very sad.
In an interview in 1978 with Ameen Sayani, He had this couplet to say about how he felt about everything:-
Jala Hai Jism Agar Dil Bhi Jal Gaya Hoga
Kuredte Ho Raakh To Justaju Kya Hai?
This golden voice passed away finally unsung in 1988 in Mumbai.
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