Monisha Unni

Monisha Unni
Monisha Unni, as seen in one of her films
Born	(1971-01-24)24 January 1971[1] Panniyankara, Kozhikode
Died	5 December 1992(1992-12-05) (aged 21) Cherthala, Alappuzha
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Film actress
Years active	1986–1992

Monisha Unni (Malayalam: മോനിഷ; 24 January 1971 – 5 December 1992) was an Indian film actress.^[1][2]

Monisha was only 15 years old when she won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her debut film, Nakhakshathangal (1986). This made her the youngest recipient of the National Film Award for Best Actress.^[3] Along with Sharada, Shobhana and Meera Jasmine, Monisha Unni is one of four Malayalam actresses who has won the National Film Award for Best Actress.^[4]

She died in a car accident near Cherthala, Alappuzha at the age of 21. In her short career spanning 6 – 7 years, Monisha collaborated with renowned directors such as MT Vasudevan Nair, Hariharan, Priyadarshan, Ajayan, Kamal and Sibi Malayil.^[5]

Early life

Monisha Unni was born at Panniyankara, Kozhikode in 1971 to Narayanan Unni and Sreedevi Unni.Narayanan Unni hailed from Shornur and was in the leather business in Bangalore, where Monisha Unni was brought up. Sreedevi Unni is a classical dancer trained in Mohiniattam. Monisha Unni started to learn dance during her childhood 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.^[6] She is has an elder brother Sajith Unni.^[7]

Monisha Unni was working on the Malayalam film Cheppadividya when she died in a car accident. On 5 December 1992, car carrying Unni and her mother Sreedevi Unni met with an accident near Cherthala in Alappuzha. While her mother escaped with fractures and bruises, Unni succumbed to injuries.^[4] Her mother Sreedevi Unni has acted in films such as Oru Cheru Punchiri,A Slender Smile,Mayookham,Nivedyam,Neelathamara,Elsamma Enna Aankutty,Pattinte Palazhi,Katha Thudarunnu,Ordinary,Diamond Necklace,Mumbai Police,Sringara Velan,Namboothiri Yuvavu @ 43 etc and currently doing a television serial named Sarayu which is telecasting in Surya TV.She has acted in some advertisements and an album named Ammakkai also.^[8]

Career

Noted Malayalam novelist MT Vasudevan Nair, who is also a screenwriter and film director, was a family friend of the Unnis. Nair was responsible for Monisha Unni's entry into films. She made her debut in Nakhakshathangal (1986), which was written by MT Vasudevan Nair and directed by Hariharan. The film portrayed a love triangle involving three teenagers. Unni's portrayal of Gowri, the film's female protagonist, won her the National Film Award for Best Actress in 1987.^[6]

Monisha Unni is also known for her roles in Malayalam films such as Perumthachan (1990), Kadavu (1991) and Kamaladalam (1992). She also acted in the Tamil films such as Pookkal Vidum Ithal (a remake of Nakhashathangal), Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen, and Dravidan, and in the Kannada film Chiranjeevi Sudhakara (1988).

Filmography

References

External links

• Monisha at MSI
• IMDB Profile at Internet Movie Database