Kochi: Thirty years ago, on Christmas Eve, a 17-year-old boy's life changed forever. 

While watching a movie at the St. George Theatre in Kottayam, a character named Dr. Sunny, played by Mollywood's beloved actor Mohanlal in the famous Malayalam film 'Manichitrathazhu,' left a lasting impression on him. Dr sunny invaded his mind and stayed there forever. 

Jemi Kuriakose, once a very young boy, today while staying in room 264 of Bharat Tourist Home, a place linked to memories of the film is now Dr. Jemi Kuriakose, a well-known psychiatrist in Germany.

Dr Jemi Kuriakose’s life is a journey following the path taken by Dr sunny in the film ‘Manichitrathazhu.’ The very first moment he saw Dr sunny while watching the film in the theatre owned by his father,  that's what he wanted to become; someone who heals human minds. 

Three decades later, achieving that very dream, he returns with the same enthusiasm of the 17 year old boy to witness 'Manichitrathazhu' in theaters once again.

The film, released on December 25, 1993, hit B-class theaters in Chingavanam the following year. While his parents worked in Germany, Jemi supervised the theater owned by his father during his undergraduate studies.

While watching thefilm, just like how 'Ganga' was attracted and excited about 'Nagavalli', mannerisms, speech and everything about Dr Sunny excited him. That day, Jemi made a decision in his mind, 'I will become Dr Sunny'.

Jemi went to Germany for his higher education, completing a B.Sc in Psychiatry, followed by nursing, MBBS, and finally, an MD. He is now a therapist for adults at a hospital in Gummersbach, Germany.

"I have seen 'Manichitrathazhu' more than 200 times. I still watch it sometimes," said Jemi.

Recently, he watched the film with his wife, Swapna, and their four children to show them the source of his 'madness'.

Jemi proudly shows the film to his foreign colleagues and friends, using it as a textbook on the treatment of mental illnesses.

He has preserved the poster, video, and audio cassettes of 'Manichitrathazhu,' much like the jewellery of Nagavalli in the movie. He even has a dialogue from the film written on his office wall: "I am going to break all conventional concepts of psychiatry!"

His search for a larger poster of 'Manichitrathazhu' led him to Swargachitra Appachan and Soman Pillai, who remastered the movie. This confirmed that this year's vacation would be spent with Dr. Sunny.

"Living with mad people is very difficult. It is even more difficult to live with those who treat madness," Dr Jemi playfully repeat the dialog from the movie.