Chef Damu passes away at 72

Chef Damu passes away at 72 left Chef Damu in Coimbatore on January 20, 2012. K. Ananthan The Hindu K_Ananthan COIMBATORE, 20/01/2012: Chef Damu at the 'Southern Aromas' food festival at The Residency in Coimbatore on January 20, 2012. Photo: K. Ananthan In 2010, Chef Damu entered the Guinness Book of World Records by cooking 617 dishes in 24 hours. He, a recipient of Padma Shri, was one of the judges on the popular television series ‘Cooku With Comali’.

CHENNAI Chef K. Damodaran popularly called ‘Chef Damu’, whose simple yet delicious recipes enlivened thousands of kitchens, passed away in Chennai on Sunday (October 25, 2026) after brief illness. He was 72 and is survived by wife Usha and daughter Akshaya, a doctor, working in London. According to family sources, his last rites would be held at 3 p.m. on Monday. Want Chef Damu to cater your wedding?

storyline 1 Born in September 1954 in West Mambalam to Kothandaraman who worked at the Secretariat and Kothainayaki, a homemaker, he was interested in cooking from a very young age and wanted to take up catering as a career. Tamil Nadu CM Vijay condoles death of Chef Damu Tamil Nadu CM Vijay condoles death of Chef Damu Chef Damodaran, a recipient of Padma Shri, set a Guinness World Record in 2010 for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.

How chef Damu went around Tamil Nadu in 60 days How chef Damu went around Tamil Nadu in 60 days The master chef recalls the mammoth task of tasting over 10,000 dishes from across the State to find out the winners for the The Hindu’s Our State Our Taste cookery competition The first Indian chef to receive a doctorate in hotel management and catering technology, he started his career in the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) as a management trainee in 1977 after completing Diploma in Hotel management and Catering Technology from Institute of Hotel Management, Taramani, Chennai.

He then completed B.Com and obtained an MBA too. Guinness record, Padma Shri In December 2010, he entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the Longest Cooking Marathon — Individual after he set the record by cooking 617 dishes (190 kg of food) in 24 hours, 30 minutes and 12 seconds. feature Damu's day-long dhamaka! left Chef Damu holds the Guinness Book of World Records certificate in Chennai on December 22, 2010.

S.R. Raghunathan The Hindu RAGHUNATHAN SR CHENNAI, 22/12/2010: Chef Dhamu, holding the Guinness Book of World Records certificate for longest cooking, in Chennai on December 22, 2010. Photo: S.R.Raghunathan He has hosted cooking programmes on several channels and was one of the judges on the popular television series ‘Cooku With Comali’. He was passionate about Tamil Nadu food, especially Chettinad food.

“He used to grind his own masalas and would tell us, his fans to do the same. I follow many of his recipes,” said S. Geetha, a homemaker in Anna Nagar. left (from left) Chefs Venkatesh Bhat and Damu in a promo still for ‘Cooku with Comali’ Special Arrangement Special Arrangement A promo still for ‘Cooku with Comali’ He was associated with the Government of Tamil Nadu in the implementation of mid-day (noon meal) meal scheme during 2008 and 2011 and the improved quality of food provided to school children.

Chef Venkatesh Bhat, said chef Damu, the first from the community of chefs to be awarded a Padma Shri (in 2025) in Tamil Nadu, was an inspiration for many youth to enter the hospitality industry and consider catering as a career. “He was a great human being. We have travelled together for 15 years. I cannot forget the days that we spent during the TV shoots. He was the president of the South Indian Culinary Academy.” Tamil Nadu celebrates 13 Padma awardees excelling in art, trade, sports, and culture storyline 1 left Chef Damu in Vellore in 2018 V.M.

Maninathan MANINATHAN VM VELLORE: TAMILNADU: 16/06/2018: Chef Damu in Vellore on Saturday. PHOTO: VM_MANINATHAN. Musician Binny Krishnakumar, who has participated in ‘Cooku With Comali’ as a guest, recalled how her daughter, Sivangi had bonded so well with Damu. “He would treat her like his own daughter. He was great fun to be with. We will miss him.” He was associated with The Hindu’s ‘Our State Our Taste’ cookery competition as judge for several years.

Paramakudi resident is winner of ‘Our State Our Taste’ storyline 1 left Culinary expert Chef Damu at The Hindu’s ‘Our State Our Taste’ cookery competition held in Puducherry on August 11, 2019 T. Singaravelou The Hindu SINGARAVELOU T PUDUCHERRY, 11/08/2019: Culinary expert Chef Damu tasting a preparation at The Hindu Our State Our Taste cookery competition held at Hotel Atithi in Puducherry.

Photo: T.Singaravelou Tamil Nadu CM Vijay condoles death of Chef Damu Tamil Nadu CM Vijay condoles death of Chef Damu Chef Damodaran, a recipient of Padma Shri, set a Guinness World Record in 2010 for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. Tamil Nadu CM Vijay condoles death of Chef Damu storyline 1 How chef Damu went around Tamil Nadu in 60 days How chef Damu went around Tamil Nadu in 60 days The master chef recalls the mammoth task of tasting over 10,000 dishes from across the State to find out the winners for the The Hindu’s Our State Our Taste cookery competition story How chef Damu went around Tamil Nadu in 60 days Chef Damu tasting participants’ food at Puducherry