Chef Damu passes away at 72

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.

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.

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 and 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.

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.

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.”

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.