In a proud moment for India’s culinary world, Dr. K. Damodaran, popularly known as Chef Damu, has been conferred the Padma Shri 2025 for his outstanding contributions in the field of culinary arts. With over five decades of service, Chef Damu has not only popularized South Indian cuisine globally but has also elevated the status of chefs as educators, researchers, and community leaders.

Born in Tamil Nadu, Chef Damu began his career in hotel management and became the first Indian chef to earn a Ph.D. in Hotel Management and Catering Technology. Over the years, he has mentored thousands of hospitality students, authored 17 cookbooks, and appeared in numerous television shows, most notably Cooku with Comali, becoming a household name.

In 2010, he set a Guinness World Record by cooking 617 dishes over 24.5 hours, showcasing the diversity and depth of Indian cuisine. This feat brought him international fame and established him as a master of both technique and endurance in the kitchen.

As a principal and professor at various hotel management colleges in Tamil Nadu, Chef Damu has influenced over 6,000 students. His textbooks and training manuals are widely used in the culinary education sector, and he continues to champion innovation in traditional cooking.

Chef Damu also played a key role in improving the Tamil Nadu Mid-Day Meal Scheme (2008–11) by training over 1.4 lakh cooks serving more than 1.6 crore children. He has actively worked with women’s self-help groups to establish canteens and has led Rotary Club campaigns offering free healthcare and community kitchens.

Upon receiving the Padma Shri from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Chef Damu said:

“This honour is not just mine. It belongs to every student, every home cook, and everyone who believes that cooking is both art and service.”

• Cultural Preservation: Promotes South Indian culinary heritage through media and academia.
• Education and Empowerment: Inspires the next generation of chefs and hospitality professionals.
• Service Through Cuisine: Uses food as a tool for community building and national health.

Chef Damu’s Padma Shri is a celebration of the Indian kitchen and a tribute to a man who turned cooking into a cultural movement. From the classroom to the camera, and from five-star kitchens to village canteens—his journey continues to inspire millions.