Pearle Maaney Disables Comments Amid Controversy Over Sibi Malayil Remarks

Pearle Maaney, a well-known actor and television host, has recently taken the step of disabling comments on one of her Instagram posts following a wave of criticism related to her comments during the ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar. The situation escalated when social media users accused her of showing disrespect towards Sibi Malayil, a National Award-winning filmmaker, while she was responding to various criticisms online. Although Pearle later deleted her Instagram Stories, screenshots of her comments continued to circulate, prompting reactions from netizens. Notably, Joe Malayil, the son of Sibi Malayil, publicly expressed his disapproval of Pearle's remarks, adding fuel to the fire of the ongoing debate.

The controversy began when Pearle Maaney shared a post advocating for peace and urging protesting students to prioritize safety and return home. This message, however, received a mixed reception from the public. As the backlash grew, Pearle took to her Instagram Stories to defend her position, claiming that her message had 'triggered' those who disagreed with her viewpoint. In her series of posts, she specifically addressed Joe Malayil's lengthy response, which she dismissed as a '10-page script' authored by a 'failed filmmaker.' Pearle's comments included a metaphorical reference to 'chilli powder' and 'ajinomoto,' suggesting that Joe's response was overly dramatic. Furthermore, she mentioned that saffron was her favorite color, associating it with her admiration for the Indian flag, which also drew mixed reactions from her followers.