Actor and television presenter Pearle Maaney has come under intense scrutiny on social media following her comments on the ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar.What began as a post appealing for peace and safety quickly turned into a major online controversy, with thousands of users criticising her views.Within two days, Pearle, who also had a YouTube interview channel, reportedly lost more than 3 lakh followers on Instagram. Her follower count also declined across Facebook and YouTube.
Pearle Maaney’s post on student protests draws mixed reactions
Pearle addressed the student protests through a lengthy Instagram post. She wrote, “All I could think was … Please don’t get hurt. Please stay safe. If your life is in danger, go back home. No cause is worth losing a life over. At the same time, I hope that the original purpose of this movement is never overshadowed. Whenever any movement grows this large, emotions run high, different voices emerge, and the conversation can become more complex. My hope is that the focus always remains on the students and the future they are asking us to build.”Pearle captioned the post, “The comments section is a reflection of my Freedom of Speech.”. Later she disabled comments as criticism mounted.
The ‘Failed filmmaker’ comment
The debate intensified after Pearle shared a series of Instagram Stories responding to those criticising her stand. One of the posts referred to a “failed filmmaker,” which many believed was aimed at veteran director Siby Malayil.Pearle wrote, “My post should have come with a trigger warning I guess! It has made a lot of people uncomfortable! It has triggered so many people that I want peace safety and non violence. I wonder who these people are. A failed filmmaker now writing a 10 page script about my 4 page post. Adding chili powder and ajinomoto to make it as unhealthy as possible. And yes my favourite colour is saffron! I think I love it the most on our Indian flag.“
Joe Sibi Malayil defends his father
Pearle’s Instagram Stories prompted a strong response from Joe Sibi Malayil, the son of filmmaker Siby Malayil.Responding through his own Instagram Stories, Joe wrote, “Hey momma bear that ‘failed filmmaker’ is my father. Check properly before who you are dealing with. How lazy must you be to read 7 slides? You expect 5.7 million followers to read your half cooked diplomacy and 7 slides is too much for you? Since you made this personal, let the games begin. ‘That failed filmmaker’ didn’t raise a son without a spine, unlike your father who raised a coward. PS his name is Siby Malayil. Go ahead. Do your best.”
Mareena Michael Kurisingal speaks about healing and grace
In another story connected with the event, actor Mareena Michael Kurisingal shared a heartfelt message, thanking everyone who stood by her in recent days. She said the discussion was never about defeating another individual but about healing, dignity and supporting people who have experienced online abuse.She wrote, “This isn’t about winning. It’s about healing….To everyone who has ever been cyberbullied, mocked, silenced, or made to feel invisible for speaking your truth or simply for being genuine—this is for you And today, I feel seen.”Referring to Pearle Maaney, Mareena added, “You once told me, ‘I didn’t even know you existed.’ That’s okay. Recognition isn’t the measure of a person’s worth. And ironically, today we’re having this conversation because your own words made people pay attention—not to who I am, but to how you chose to respond. Sometimes, it’s not about who knew whom. It’s about who handled criticism with grace.”
