On Sunday, celebrity chef Damodaran K, who was popularly known as Chef Damu, passed away at the age of 72. While the exact cause of his death hasn't been revealed, Damu passed away due to illness.
Damodaran was born in 1954 and went on to obtain a PhD in Hotel Management and Catering Technology from the University of Madras in 2004. In 2010 he was the recipient of a Guiness World Record for cooking more than 600 dishes in a span of 24 hours.
In 2025, he received a Padmi Shri from President Droupadi Murmu for his contributions to culinary science.
While he appeared in scripted films and television shows like Oru Pakka Kathai and Kalyanam Conditions Apply, he is best for being a judge on the comedy reality show Cooku with Comali. He appeared as a judge for all seven seasons of the show.
The chef recently paused from appearing on television to taking some time for his personal health. This sparked rumours of his passing, though those rumours were quashed.
His funeral and last rites are expected to be conducted in Chennai.
