For millions of Tamil TV viewers, one face stood for good food and good humour: a calm, smiling chef in whites who could correct a burnt kuzhambu without making anyone feel small. That chef, K Damodharan, known to everyone as Chef Damu, has died.
Chef Damu, 72, died in Chennai on Sunday, October 25, 2026, after a period of illness, according to reports. Metro Vaartha reported that he passed away at a private hospital in the city. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay condoled his death on X, calling it a great loss to the culinary world. The exact cause of death has not been made public.
Quick Facts
- Who: K Damodharan, popularly called Chef Damu, celebrity chef and TV judge
- What: Died after a period of illness; cause not disclosed
- When: Sunday, October 25, 2026
- Where: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Age: 72 (born 1954)
- Best known for: Judging Vijay TV’s Cooku with Comali; Padma Shri 2025; a 2010 Guinness World Record
Chef Damu Death: What We Know
News of his death broke on Sunday, and tributes followed from the state’s top leadership.
Reports from DT Next and news agency ANI say he had been unwell for some time before he died. Neither the family nor the hospital has shared details of his illness so far, and funeral arrangements had not been announced at the time of writing.
CM Vijay Pays Tribute to Chef Damu
Chief Minister Vijay posted his condolences on X on Sunday. He said Damu’s death was “a great loss to the culinary world” and sent his sympathies to the chef’s family, friends and admirers.
A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, quoted by ANI, credited Damu with bringing the art of cooking to ordinary people through television. The CM also recalled his Guinness World Record and his Padma Shri honour.
It is a fitting line. Long before cooking content filled every phone screen, Damu was the person many viewers learned basic techniques from, explained slowly and without fuss.
From Hotel Trainee to Padma Shri: Chef Damu’s Journey
Born in 1954, Damodharan trained at the Institute of Hotel Management in Chennai, ANI reported. He began his working life as a management trainee with the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation.
Metro Vaartha noted that he started out humbly, at one point working as a dishwasher, before rising to become one of the best-known names in Indian cooking. Over the decades he taught, cooked on stage and on screen, and even acted in Tamil films.
In January 2025, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian award, for his contribution to the culinary arts. The official list of awardees is published on the Padma Awards website.
The 24-Hour Guinness World Record Cooking Marathon
Ask any fan about Chef Damu and the world record comes up fast. In December 2010, he set a Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.
According to ANI, he cooked 617 dishes weighing 190 kg over 24 hours, 30 minutes and 12 seconds. Picture making a full wedding feast menu on your own, then doing it a few more times without sleep, and you get a sense of the stamina involved.
He was not done with big numbers either. ANI reported that he later made a 14.7-metre dosa in Madurai and the world’s largest curry in Singapore.
Why Cooku with Comali Fans Loved Him
For a younger audience, Chef Damu was simply the kind judge on Cooku with Comali, Vijay TV’s hit mix of cooking contest and comedy. He was part of the show from its early seasons.
While the comalis created chaos in the kitchen, Damu was the steady presence. He would taste a dish, smile, point out what went wrong and explain how to fix it next time. Reports describe him as warm and encouraging, with a gentle sense of humour that made contestants and viewers comfortable.
That mix of skill and kindness is a big reason the show became a family favourite in Tamil Nadu and among Tamil viewers abroad.
What We Don’t Know Yet
- The specific illness or cause of death has not been officially disclosed.
- Funeral timing and venue for the public to pay respects had not been announced when this report was published.
- Vijay TV and the Cooku with Comali team had not shared a formal statement in the reports we reviewed.
A Legacy Bigger Than One Show
Chef Damu’s career covered almost the whole story of Indian food on television: from the early days of studio cooking shows to prime-time entertainment and, later, viral reels. Through each phase, his approach stayed the same. Make cooking feel doable for ordinary people.
His record attempts showed the showman side. His TV work showed the teacher. And his path from a hotel management trainee to a Padma Shri awardee is the kind of story that will keep inspiring young cooks in catering colleges across Tamil Nadu.
FAQs
How did Chef Damu die?
Reports say he died in Chennai after a period of illness. The exact cause has not been made public.
How old was Chef Damu?
He was 72. He was born in 1954.
What is Chef Damu’s real name?
His full name was K Damodharan. He was popularly known as Chef Damu, sometimes spelled Dhamu.
What Guinness World Record did Chef Damu hold?
In December 2010 he set the record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, cooking 617 dishes in just over 24 hours, as reported by ANI.
Was Chef Damu a Padma Shri awardee?
Yes. He received the Padma Shri in 2025 for his contribution to the culinary arts.
Based on reporting by DT Next, ANI (via LatestLY) and Metro Vaartha.
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