Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Oct 25: Renowned chef Damodharan, popularly known as Chef Damu, passed away on Sunday at the age of 72 after a period of ill health.

The Padma Shri awardee was a respected name in the culinary world and a familiar face among Tamil television viewers for his role as a judge on the popular cooking show ‘Cooku with Comali’.

Chef Damu’s journey was marked by perseverance and determination. Beginning his career as a dishwasher in restaurants, he worked his way up to become one of India’s best-known chefs. During his illustrious career, he earned a Guinness World Record and received the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian honours.

He built his reputation through his culinary skills and expertise in hotel management. He was the first Indian chef to earn a PhD in Hotel Management from the University of Madras.

Over the years, cooking shows made him a regular presence in Tamil households. On ‘Cooku with Comali’, he judged contestants as they tackled kitchen challenges interspersed with comedy, winning the affection of viewers.

Fans had noticed his absence from the semi-finals of Season 7 of the show. He later explained in a video that he could not participate in the final stages because he had received an injection in his leg. He had assured viewers that he was doing fine.

Reports said Chef Damu had been using a wheelchair in recent years following a hip fracture and knee surgery.

His death marks a loss for the culinary fraternity and Tamil television. He will be remembered for his contribution to cooking, his achievements in hotel management and the warmth he brought to the screen.