EntertainmentPhoto: The News MinutePadma Shri Chef Damu of Cooku with Comali Dies at 72 in Chennai
Celebrity chef K Damodaran, known as Chef Damu, died on October 25 in Chennai at age 72. A Padma Shri awardee in 2025, he was famous for his role on Star Vijay’s Cooku with Comali. He began his career in 1977, earned a PhD in hotel management—the first Indian chef to do so—and contributed significantly to Tamil Nadu’s food industry and education.
The News Minute··Chennai



