From dishwasher to Padma Shri: Chef Damu’s remarkable life ends at 72

Tamil chef Damodharan Kothandaraman, popularly known as Chef Damu, died on October 25 aged 72.
He began his career in hotel kitchens and became a familiar television judge on Cooku With Comali.
In 2010, he cooked 617 dishes in 24 hours and 30 minutes, earning a Guinness World Record.
The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2025 for contributions to culinary arts.

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