{
  "id": 16455584,
  "title": "Chef Damu dies: Cooku with Comali judge and Guinness record holder, CM Vijay leads tributes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/chef-damu-dies-cooku-with-comali-judge-and-guinness-record-holder-cm",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-25T09:01:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/chef-damu-dies-cooku-with-comali-judge-and-guinness-record-holder-cm-vijay-leads-tributes-1.500722903"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chef Damu, a renowned Tamil chef and judge on the television cooking show Cooku with Comali, has passed away at the age of 72 in Chennai. The cause of his death has not been disclosed, but he had been receiving treatment at a private hospital for several days prior. Born Damodharan Kothandaraman, he was the first Indian chef to earn a doctorate in Hotel Management and Catering Technology from the University of Madras, earning him the nickname \"Dr Chef.\" He held a Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon, preparing 617 dishes in a single day during a 24-hour, 30-minute, and 12-second challenge in 2010. His culinary expertise and unique approach brought the art of cooking to the people through his television programs. CM Vijay, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, paid tribute to Damu, expressing his condolences to the chef's family, relatives, and friends.",
  "summary": "Dubai: Chef Damu, the veteran Tamil chef known to television audiences as a judge on Cooku with Comali, has died in Chennai at the age of 72. According to Filmibeat, he died on Sunday, October 25, after a period of illness. He had reportedly been receiving treatment at a private hospital in Chennai for the past few days. The cause of death has not been made public. Born Damodharan Kothandaraman,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times",
        "title": "Chef Damu dies at 72; Padma Shri-winning Tamil chef",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/chef-damu-dies-at-72-padma-shri-winning-tamil-chef",
        "published": "2026-10-25T05:14:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "RIP Chef Damu: From dishwasher to respected name of culinary world - Top facts about Cooku with Comali judge Damordaran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/rip-chef-damu-from-dishwasher-to-respected-name-of-culinary-world-top",
        "published": "2026-10-25T08:09:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Padma Shri Awardee Chef Damu dies at 72 : Culinary industry mourns the loss",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/padma-shri-awardee-chef-damu-dies-at-72-culinary-industry-mourns-the",
        "published": "2026-10-25T10:09:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Chef Damu passes away at 72",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/chef-damu-passes-away-at-72",
        "published": "2026-10-25T12:09:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}