Adds Ramesh, “In Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein, R. Madhavan is fabulous with the ‘fibre’ and that’s why I want to use them.”

Not only boys, a section of teenage girls is also impressed by the dare-devilry of Warrior Princess Xena, Jungle Queen Sheena and the Queen of Swords. Hemani, a second year college student, carries a knife. “I carry it for my personal safety because the city is still not safe. Moreover, my role model Xena also carries it, though hers is much bigger. But I get a feeling of pride when I have it with me.”

Explains Ashok Patnaik, head of the psychiatry department of Telco Hospital, “Peer pressure affects students and when cornered, they take to weapons to derive a false sense of well-being and power. Coupled with the screen impact, it often leads children astray.

“Moreover, if a child is brought up in a crime-prone environment he tends to violent from an early age. This also happens if teenagers have easy access to arms. Basically teenagers are not aware of the legal implications of such behaviour and are unable to decide what is right or wrong.’’

(Some of the names have been changed to preserve the identity of the persons)