Chef Damu, the Tamil TV chef and judge on “Cooku with Comali,” dies at 72 after a period of ill health. Multiple outlets report that he is known to mainstream audiences through cooking shows and his television presence, alongside a career rooted in culinary work and recognition within India’s food world.
Reports describe his background and public profile in broadly similar terms: he is popularly known as Chef Damu (also referred to as Chef Damodharan/Damordaran in some titles), and he is associated with promoting Tamil and South Indian cuisine. Several outlets also highlight major honours and records, including a Padma Shri and Guinness World Records, as well as authorship of cookbooks and training roles. One source further adds he worked with or trained people connected to Tamil Nadu’s midday-meal scheme.
Local political framing appears in one piece that mentions Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay paying tribute. Other outlets focus more on career milestones—such as a “from dishwasher to respected name” narrative—and on his visibility as a TV personality and culinary educator. Overall, the coverage converges on his death and legacy as a chef and television figure, with differences mainly in the depth of biographical detail and which achievements are foregrounded.
