In the age of Instagram reels and Twitter clips, scenes from films often gain a second life online—but not always in the way their creators imagined. One such example is the climactic courtroom monologue by Kay Kay Menon in the 2008 military drama Shaurya. Directed by Samar Khan, the film was a Hindi adaptation of A Few Good Men, examining themes of justice, morality, and abuse of power in the Indian Army.
However, in recent years, a particular scene featuring Menon’s character, Brigadier Rudra Pratap Singh, has gone viral for all the wrong reasons.
“It’s unfortunate,” says Khan. “People are glorifying a character meant to be condemned.”
Menon’s performance is magnetic, no doubt—but the virality of his monologue has led some to sympathize with Rudra’s extremist views, confusing cinematic craft with ideological endorsement.
This reflects a broader issue with social media’s bite-sized content culture. “That’s the problem,” Khan notes. “People consume content without context. It’s clickbait, and it fuels views, but it doesn’t reflect the story’s message.”
In a time when even villains become cult icons, Kay Kay Menon’s performance as an antagonist has—ironically—made him a symbol of strength in certain social media circles.
But as Khan points out, Rudra is not a role model. He is a warning.
This misreading of intent is not new. Audiences have often been drawn to anti-heroes or villains—from Tony Montana to Walter White. But the difference with Rudra is the danger of associating his ideology with patriotism, especially in today’s politically polarized climate.
For creators like Khan, it’s a bittersweet legacy. While Shaurya remains a milestone in Indian courtroom drama, its most famous scene is now being celebrated for the exact opposite reason it was written.