‘Oh God… was this truly Dr Jose Chacko Periappuram—such a simple man?’ Jayasurya shares heartfelt tribute

Just the other day, at a private hospital in Ernakulam, two heart transplant surgeries were performed within 48 hours. Leading both procedures was none other than Dr Jose Chacko Periappuram. Back in 2003, he performed Kerala’s first-ever heart transplant, and the nation has honoured him with both the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards.

Now, actor Jayasurya has shared a deeply moving note about the doctor on social media. Dr Jose, who lives in Kochi, also happens to be Jayasurya’s neighbour. Despite being a highly sought-after surgeon performing some of the most complex procedures imaginable, Jayasurya’s post celebrates the doctor’s humility.

He’s also shared a few photos with Dr Jose.

Here’s Jayasurya’s full post:

One day, a friend and I stepped out of my flat and were walking towards the car park. We saw a man approaching—carrying bags in both hands, dressed in a short-sleeved T-shirt and track pants.

The moment he saw me, he said, “Hey Jayasurya! What’s up? No shoot today?”

“No, not today, Doctor,” I replied.

“Where are you off to?” I asked.
 

“I just got back from my farmhouse. Got a good batch of rambutans. I’ll ask Jaimy to pass some to Saritha.”

“Oh, thank you, Doctor! We’ll eat them and give you a call.”

Seeing my friend, he asked, “Who’s this?”

“My friend—he’s come to pitch a story,” I said.

“Alright then, may everything go well. God bless you,” he said, and walked off towards the lift.

My friend turned to me and asked, “Who was that? He looks like a parish priest. Is he a doctor?”

I replied, “Yes, he’s a doctor. You might recognise the name—Jose Chacko Periappuram.”

He was stunned. “Oh my God… That was Dr Jose Chacko Periappuram? Such a simple man?”

His shock was understandable. In an age where people often wear their profession like a badge of pride, here’s a man who has performed over 22,500 heart surgeries, including 32 heart transplants, and has been honoured with both the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan—yet carries himself with such lightness and grace. It’s truly a sight to behold.

I told my friend, “And not just that—this incredibly busy man is also the president of our flat association!”

He was floored. “My goodness… He’s a legend, isn’t he?”

I just smiled at him.

What someone earns through hard work isn’t just a reflection of their skill—it’s also a divine gift. And only those with the emotional maturity to recognise that will continue to receive such blessings. That’s something we can all learn from him.

How do you even describe someone whose heart radiates divine light?

Congratulations, Dr Jose Chacko Periappuram.

With heartfelt admiration, Jayasurya