Monisha
Encyclopedia
Monisha was an India
n film actress, primarily of Malayalam cinema
, who made her presence known with her very first film. She 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. She died in a car accident at the age of 21.
, Calicut in 1971 to Narayanan Unni and Sreedevi. She has a brother, Sajith. Her father, Narayanan Unni, hailed from Shornur and was in the leather business in Bangalore
, Karnataka, where Monisha was brought up. Her mother, Sreedevi, was a dancer. Monisha started to learn dance during her childhood and soon became a danseuse. She did her first stage performance when she was 9. She won the Kaushika Award in the Karnataka
state-level Bharatanatyam
competition in 1985. She completed her schooling at St Charles High School, Bangalore and Bishop Cotton Girls School
, Bangalore. She completed her degree in psychology
at Mount Carmel
College, Bangalore.
, who is also a screenwriter
and film director
, is a family friend of Monisha's. He was responsible for her entry into films. She made a debut in film acting with Nakhakshathangal (1986), which was written by M.T.
and directed by Hariharan
. The film portrayed a love triangle involving three teenagers. Monisha was paired opposite another debutant Vineeth
, who was to become a famous south Indian actor. Monisha's portrayal of Gowri, the film's female protagonist, won her the National Film Award for Best Actress
in 1987. Monisha proved her performance in her first film was not a fluke with her performances in Perumthachan (1990), Kadavu (1991) and Kamaladalam (1992), which was a Bharath Mohanlal
starrer. She also acted in the Tamil films Pookkal Vidum Ithal (a remake of Nakhashathangal), Unna Nenachen Paatu Padichen, and Dravidan, and in the Kannada film Chiranjeevi Sudhakar (1988), pairing with Raghavendra Rajkumar
in the lead roles.
in Alappuzha
. While her mother escaped with fractures and bruises, Monisha succumbed to severe internal brain damage and other injuries.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n film actress, primarily of Malayalam cinema
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...
, who made her presence known with her very first film. She was only 15 years old when she won the National Film Award for Best Actress
National Film Award for Best Actress
The National Film Award for Best Actress is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actress who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry...
for her debut film, Nakhakshathangal (1986). This made her the youngest recipient of the National Film Award. She died in a car accident at the age of 21.
Early life
Monisha was born in PanniyankaraPanniyankara
Panniyankara has its origin in the 18th century. The main features are police station, Sathram Bus Stop and southern Railway. It is situated in Calicut district in Kerala, India. Earlier there was a palace named as Kavalapparakottaram , now demolished and the Panniankara Telephone exchange was...
, Calicut in 1971 to Narayanan Unni and Sreedevi. She has a brother, Sajith. Her father, Narayanan Unni, hailed from Shornur and was in the leather business in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, Karnataka, where Monisha was brought up. Her mother, Sreedevi, was a dancer. Monisha started to learn dance during her childhood and soon became a danseuse. She did her first stage performance when she was 9. She won the Kaushika Award in the Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
state-level Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam
Bharata Natyam or Chadhir Attam, is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music...
competition in 1985. She completed her schooling at St Charles High School, Bangalore and Bishop Cotton Girls School
Bishop Cotton Girls School
Bishop Cotton Girls' School, also known as BCGS, is a private all-girls' school for boarders and day scholars in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The school offers academic scholarships, which aid students from lower income backgrounds to afford tuition and boarding fees...
, Bangalore. She completed her degree in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at Mount Carmel
Mount Carmel
Mount Carmel ; , Kármēlos; , Kurmul or جبل مار إلياس Jabal Mar Elyas 'Mount Saint Elias') is a coastal mountain range in northern Israel stretching from the Mediterranean Sea towards the southeast. Archaeologists have discovered ancient wine and oil presses at various locations on Mt. Carmel...
College, Bangalore.
Career
Noted Malayalam novelist M. T. Vasudevan NairM. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...
, who is also a screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, is a family friend of Monisha's. He was responsible for her entry into films. She made a debut in film acting with Nakhakshathangal (1986), which was written by M.T.
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...
and directed by Hariharan
Hariharan (director)
Hariharan is a Malayali film director. His movies mainly revolved around the cultural and relational aspects of a typical Kerala society. His notable works include Pazhassi Raja, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Sargam, Parinayam, Amrutham Gamaya and Nakhakshathangal, which won him national...
. The film portrayed a love triangle involving three teenagers. Monisha was paired opposite another debutant Vineeth
Vineeth
Vineeth is an Indian film actor and classical dancer who has acted in several well received films in his native Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films. He studied in Good Shepherd Public School, Ooty, and at St. Joseph's Boys' High School, Thalassery.Vineeth is nephew of the famous Travancore...
, who was to become a famous south Indian actor. Monisha's portrayal of Gowri, the film's female protagonist, won her the National Film Award for Best Actress
National Film Award for Best Actress
The National Film Award for Best Actress is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actress who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry...
in 1987. Monisha proved her performance in her first film was not a fluke with her performances in Perumthachan (1990), Kadavu (1991) and Kamaladalam (1992), which was a Bharath Mohanlal
Mohanlal
Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...
starrer. She also acted in the Tamil films Pookkal Vidum Ithal (a remake of Nakhashathangal), Unna Nenachen Paatu Padichen, and Dravidan, and in the Kannada film Chiranjeevi Sudhakar (1988), pairing with Raghavendra Rajkumar
Raghavendra Rajkumar
Raghavendra Rajkumar is an actor in the Kannada film Industry. He is the second son of the legendary Kannada matinee idol Dr. Rajkumar. After starring in lead roles in many Kannada films, he is now actively involved in production - including the recent blockbuster Jackie starring his brother,...
in the lead roles.
Death
Monisha was working on the Malayalam film Cheppadividya when she died. On 5 December 1992, a car carrying her and her mother met with an accident near CherthalaCherthala
Cherthala is a town located in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India. It is located 30 km south of the city of Kochi and 22 km north of Alappuzha town, on the Kochi-Alappuzha streatch of both the National Highway 47 as well as the costal Rail-route.lt is 85 km from the...
in Alappuzha
Alappuzha
Alappuzha , also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. As per 2001 census Alleppey is the sixth largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029. Alleppey is situated to the south of Kochi and north of Trivandrum...
. While her mother escaped with fractures and bruises, Monisha succumbed to severe internal brain damage and other injuries.
Filmography
- Cheppadividya (1992)
- Champakkulam Thachan (1992)
- KamaladalamKamaladalamKamaladalam is a Malayalam film released in 1992, written by A. K. Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil; featuring Mohanlal, Murali, Vineeth, Nedumudi Venu, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Monisha, Parvathy and Sukumari...
(1992) - Kudumbasametham (1992)
- Oru Kochu Bhoomikulukkam (1992)
- Thalasthanam (1992)
- Pookkal Vidum Ithal
- Dravidan
- Unna Nenachen Paattu Padicchen (1992)
- Kadavu (1991)
- Venal Kinavukal (1991)
- Veena Meettiyavilagukal (1990)
- PerumthachanPerumthachan (film)Perumthachan literally means "The Great Carpenter" is a Kerala State Film Award winning film released in 1990. This movie was also nominated for Golden Leopard Award...
(1990) - Kuruppinte Kanakkupusthakam (1990)
- Adhipan (1989)
- Kanakambaragal (1988)
- Chiranjivi Sudhakara (1988) (Sandalwood movieCinema of KarnatakaThe cinema of Karnataka , sometimes colloquially referred to as Sandalwood and as Chandanavana in Kannada, encompasses movies made in the Indian state of Karnataka based in Bangalore. Most of the movies are made in Kannada, with a handful of them in Konkani or Tulu. Today more than 100 films are...
) - Aryan (1988)
- Sayamsandhya (1986)
- Hrithubhedam (1986)
- Nakhakshathangal (1986)
External links
- IMDB Profile at Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...