Monisha Unni


Monisha Unni was an Indian film actress.
Monisha was 15 when she became the youngest actress ever to receive the National Film Award for Best Actress for Nakhakshathangal, her debut film. Along with Sharada, Shobhana, Meera Jasmine, Surabhi Lakshmi and Shobha, Monisha Unni is one of six Malayalam actresses who have won the National Film Award for Best Actress.
She died in a car accident near Cherthala, Alappuzha at the age of 21. In her short career, Monisha collaborated with directors such as M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Hariharan, Priyadarshan, Ajayan, Kamal and Sibi Malayil.

Early life

Monisha Unni was born in Panniyankara, Kozhikode in 1971 to Narayanan Unni and Sreedevi Unni. Narayanan Unni came from Shornur and was in the leather business in Bangalore, where Unni was brought up. Sreedevi Unni is a classical dancer trained in Mohiniattam. Unni started to learn dance during her childhood and did her first stage performance when she was nine years old. She won the Kaushika Award in the Karnataka state-level Mohiniyattam competition in 1985. She completed her schooling at St. Charles High School, Bangalore and Bishop Cotton Girls School, Bangalore. She completed her graduation in psychology at Mount Carmel College, Bangalore. She has an elder brother, Sajith Unni.

Death

Monisha Unni was working on the Malayalam film Cheppadividya when she died in a car accident. On 5 December 1992, a car carrying Monisha and her mother Sreedevi Unni met with an accident near Cherthala in Alappuzha. While her mother escaped with fractures and bruises, Monisha succumbed to her injuries.

Career

Malayalam novelist M. T. Vasudevan Nair, who is also a screenwriter and film director, was a family friend of the Unnis. M. T. was responsible for Unni's entry into films. She made her debut in Nakhakshathangal, which was written by M. T. and directed by Hariharan. The film portrayed a love triangle involving three teenagers. Monisha's portrayal of Gowri, the film's female protagonist, won her the National Film Award for Best Actress in 1987.
Monisha is also known for her roles in Malayalam films such as Perumthachan, Kadavu and Kamaladalam. She acted in Tamil films such as Pookkal Vidum Thoodhu, Moondraavadhu Kann, Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen, and Dravidan, and in the Kannada film Chiranjeevi Sudhakar. She appeared in the Telugu movie Lawyer Bharathi Devi.

Filmography