Monisha Unni

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Monisha Unni
File:Monisha Unni.jpg
Born
24 January 1970 Panniyankara, Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Died5 December 1992(1992-12-05) (aged 22)
X-ray Junction, Cherthala, Alappuzha
Alma materMount Carmel College, Bangalore
OccupationActress
Classical Dancer
Years active1984 -1992
Known forNakhakshathangal
Perumthachan
Kamaladalam
Parent(s)Narayanan Unni
Sreedevi Unni

Monisha Unni (24 January 1970 – 5 December 1992) was an Indian actress, known for her works in Malayalam, Tamil cinema.[1][2]

Monisha was 16 when she became the youngest actress ever to receive the National Film Award for Best Actress for Nakhakshathangal (1986), her debut film.[3] 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.[4][5]

In her short career, Monisha collaborated with directors such as M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Hariharan, Priyadarshan, Ajayan, Kamal and Sibi Malayil.[6]

Early life[edit]

Monisha Unni was born in Panniyankara, Kozhikode in 1971 to Narayanan Unni and Sreedevi Unni.[7] Narayanan Unni was in the leather business in Bangalore, where Monisha was brought up. Sreedevi Unni is a classical dancer trained in Mohiniattam. Monisha 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.[8] She has an elder brother, Sajith Unni.[9]

Death[edit]

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.[4]

Career[edit]

Malayalam novelist M. T. Vasudevan Nair, who is also a screenwriter and film director, was a family friend of Monisha. M. T. was responsible for Monisha's entry into films. She made her debut in Nakhakshathangal (1986), 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.[8]

Monisha is also known for her roles in Malayalam films such as Perumthachan (1990), Kadavu (1991) and Kamaladalam (1992). She acted in Tamil films such as Pookkal Vidum Thoodhu (a remake of Nakhashathangal), Moondraavadhu Kann, Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen, and Dravidan, and in the Kannada film Chiranjeevi Sudhakar (1988). She appeared in the Telugu movie Lawyer Bharathi Devi (1987).[citation needed]

Filmography[edit]

Year Film Role Language Notes
1984 Paavayya Tamil A 16mm B/W Tamil short film directed by U. S. Vaasan (based on "Vilaivu", a short story by K. I. Rajanarayanan)
1986 Nakhakshathangal Gowri Malayalam National Film Award for Best Actress. Written by MT Vasudevan Nair and directed by Hariharan.
1986 Rithubhedam Thankamani Malayalam
1986 Sayam Sandhya Vinumol Malayalam
1987 Pookkal Vidum Thoothu Gowri Tamil Directed by Sreedhar Rajan
1987 Lawyer Bharathi Devi Leela Telugu First Telugu film; directed by G Rammohan Rao
1988 Aryan Sainabha Malayalam Written by T. Damodaran and directed by Priyadarshan
1988 Chiranjeevi Sudhakar Sandhya, Sarala (Twin Role) Kannada Only Kannada film; directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao
1988 Kanakambarangal Sreedevi Malayalam
1989 Dravidan Salma Tamil Remake of Aryan (1988) by R Kirshnamoorthy
1989 Adhipan Geetha Malayalam Written by Jagadeesh and directed by K. Madhu
1990 Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom Sathi Malayalam
1990 Veena Meettiya Vilangukal Sridevi Malayalam
1990 Perumthachan Kunhikkavu Thamburatti Malayalam Written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair and directed by Ajayan. The film won the National Film Award for Best Debut Film of a Director.
1990 Kaazhchakkappuram Ammu Malayalam
1991 Venal Kinavukal Nalini Malayalam
1991 Kadavu Devi Malayalam A film by M. T. Vasudevan Nair based on Kadathuthoni by S. K. Pottekkatt. The film won the Special Jury Award at the Singapore International Film Festival, the Grand Prix at the Japanese Film Festival, the National Film Award for Best Screenplay and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film.
1992 Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen Dhanam Tamil
1992 Thalastaanam Radha Malayalam Written by Renji Panicker and directed by Shaji Kailas
1992 Oru Kochu Bhoomikulukkam Viji Malayalam Directed by P. Chandrashekhar
1992 Kudumbasammetham Thulasi Malayalam
1992 Kamaladalam Malavika Malayalam Written by A. K. Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil
1992 Champakulam Thachan Ammu Malayalam Written by Sreenivasan and directed by Kamal
1992 Cheppadividya Elsa Malayalam Directed by G. S. Vijayan
1993 Moondravadhu Kann Priya Tamil Directed by Manivannan

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Monisha Biography". entertainment.oneindia.in. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ National Best Actress Award for Nakhashathangal – IMDB Page
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ↑ "Remembering 'Manjal Prasadam Nettiyil Charthiya' girl Monisha Unni on her death anniversary - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Weblokam Profile of Monisha Archived 2 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Weblokam.com. Retrieved on 2012-11-20.
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[edit]

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