Monisha Unni
Monisha Unni | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | |
Died | 5 December 1992 | (aged 21)
Cause of death | Car Accident |
Nationality | Indian |
Alma mater | Mount Carmel College, Bangalore |
Occupation(s) | Film actress Classical Dancer |
Years active | 1986–1992 |
Known for | Nakhakshathangal Perumthachan Kamaladalam |
Parent(s) | Narayanan Unni Sreedevi Unni |
Monisha Unni (24 January 1971 – 5 December 1992) was an Indian film actress, known for her works in Malayalam cinema.[1][2]
Monisha was 15 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
Monisha Unni was born in Panniyankara, Kozhikode in 1971 to Narayanan Unni and Sreedevi Unni.[7] 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.[8] She has an elder brother, Sajith Unni.[9]
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.[4]
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 (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
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 | 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
- ^ "Monisha Biography". entertainment.oneindia.in. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ National Best Actress Award for Nakhashathangal – IMDB Page
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "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.
- ^ a b Weblokam Profile of Monisha Archived 2 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Weblokam.com. Retrieved on 2012-11-20.
- ^ "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
- Indian film actresses
- People from Kozhikode district
- Actresses in Malayalam cinema
- 1971 births
- 1992 deaths
- Actresses from Kerala
- Best Actress National Film Award winners
- Road incident deaths in India
- 20th-century Indian actresses
- Actresses in Tamil cinema
- Actresses in Telugu cinema
- Mount Carmel College, Bangalore alumni