Manjit’s the man!

At a recent ceremony at Curzon Hall, a 16-yearold guest exclaimed, “Wow, what a wedding! The venue itself is like an old country manor, and when the groom arrived on a white steed, it was kind of Pride and Prejudice… the scene will stay with me for a long time for sure!”

Perhaps she will want to recreate it for her own wedding in years to come.

Well, this kind of forward planning is important if you wish to use the expertise of the organising team – known to us as Manjit’s.

Manjit Gujral is a well known and respected personality not only in Sydney’s Indian community, but in the event management business, having organised in excess of 3,000 functions. Starting off with the city-based Manjit’s Indian Restaurant in 1981, he launched Manjit’s Balmain in 1984 and Manjits Concord Function Centre in 2001.

The growth over the years was possible because the Gujral family all pooled in their resources, the two young sons gaining qualifications in the field after finishing school. Today, they each bring in their own expertise to the events they organise. While Manjit, in his matching pug and tie is busy co-ordinating processes like the conductor of a 100-piece orchestra, his son Karandeep is ensuring that the program runs like clockwork. Wife Kanwal brings in the soft glamour to the evening as she oversees the decorations, the overall settings and adds her artistic touch. Younger son Varun, who specializes in food, incorporates new menu styles and new dishes to inspire their guests to try different cuisines and fusion menu options whilst still keeping the flavours of their brand of food that people have grown to love in the last 35 years.

What sets the Gujrals apart from competitors is their attention to detail: with their experience of more than three decades in the restaurant and catering industry, they continually strive towards improving their service and implementing creativity in their menus. “We spend much time tailoring each event to the client’s individual requirements,” Karandeep notes. “It’s their party, and we want them to have a good time!”

And it is because of this attention to detail that clients walk away with a smile on their face, taking with them memories of a function that went off perfectly smoothly.

Is it hard to cater to every whim and fancy of the clients?

“No, not at all,” pat comes Karandeep’s reply. “Even when we have unusual requests – such as a wedding menu that had only desserts, or the smaller touches such as the bridal party entering in a helicopter. We’ve done events were the guests have been transported to 3 different locations in the one night. One occasion we were asked to organise an elephant for the groom’s entry”.

Would they do a gay marriage party – once it is legalised?

“We’ve done a few of those already, ‘life partner ceremonies’ as they are called. The most memorable one they have done has been for a Philipino lesbian couple. The event was filled with an array of transsexuals, transgender, and homosexual couples. Gay marriages are becoming a rising trend and are full of excitement and entertainment (both for the gusts and the staff). No one parties like the gays!”

It’s the sheer variety in their industry that makes it unique, Karan Gujral feels.

“We have a wide variety of different clients, activities, and events. We do personal events –such as birthdays and weddings – as well as corporate events, which means that each day, each function, is unique in itself. Sometimes the same client could have two completely different events planned with us, and alternatively sometimes there may be two very similar events planned for two different clients! Personally I love my job. I feel that a passion for the work that you do everyday is so crucial to a happy and successful life. My brother and I have worked closely together as a team to ensure the success of our business. We bounce ideas off each other and together create unique ways in which to grow the business”. With his well-honed people skills and self-assured demeanour, it is hardly surprising that Karan’s favourite aspect about the job is dealing with clients. “People come to us from all walks of life, with different experiences and backgrounds, and I find talking to these clients a fascinating experience. Planning their wedding – the most important day of their life – has a great sense of adventure and achievement for me. I have made some of the best friends in this industry. However, the sparkle in the diamond, is watching them on the wedding day! As a tear rolls down the bride’s cheek when she sways and turns during her first dance with her groom, there is magic in the room. It’s a rewarding feeling to know that you were part of creating that moment. The difficult aspect of this industry would have to be, the long hours we work. However, the rush I get from each event we create is more than enough to outweigh any of the difficult aspects”.

Going forward, Karan articulates his company’s vision: “Manjit’s is always looking at different ventures and different ideas within the hospitality industry; we look after two restaurants, a thriving function centre, as well as a successful events management division. We are currently in discussion about acquiring a new venue, as well as tapping into the prepackaged and frozen food market. Within the company, we are looking at creating an innovative new line of menus, different service options, and different event ideas to have our clients and guests blown away!” With passion such as this, no wonder guests are in safe hands when they plan their functions at Manjit’s Concord Function Centre, or at Shangri La or Four Seasons or Curzon Hall or La Montage. Prefer a harbour cruise for your big day? No problem, although it might be a tad difficult to get the elephant on board…. but hey, you can ask, can’t you? We are sure they will find a way to make you happy, and as Karan says, “leave with a smile on your face”.

Manjit’s Total Events Management team can be contacted on 02 9736 3366 or 0412 280 046.

Hotels and function centres Manjit’s provide their services to:

Sydney Town Hall

Paddington Town Hall

ShangriLa Hotel

Four Seasons Hotel

Westin Hotel

Sofitel Hotel Sydney

Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) sydney

Sydney Glass Island

Starship Sydney

Doltone House

Luna Park

Taronga Centre

Hilton Sydney

Le Montage

Curzon Hall

Miramare Gardens Gap Bluff Centre

Sydney Uni

UNSW

Dockside

Watersedge Function

Centre

Sebel Pier 1

Waterview

Fleet Steps

The Tea Room

Sargent’s Mess

Ivy Bar/Function Centre

Croation Club

A range of marquees and garden events

By DeVNA AND MANAN