Chef Damu, a well-known Tamil food personality, who made Tamil Nadu's food traditions famous on screens, died at the age of 72. He was a judge on Cooku With Comali, a record holder for Guinness World Records, and a recipient of the Padma Shri award. His death has been mourned by fellow chefs and fans. Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister Vijay expressed condolences, and Chef Sanjeev Kapoor paid tribute to Chef Damu, recalling his 'ever-smiling, cheerful nature'.