Monisha Unni (24 January 1971 – 5 December 1992) was an Indian actress, known for her works in Malayalam, Tamil cinema.^[1]

Monisha was 16 when she became the youngest actress ever to receive the National Film Award for Best Actress for Nakhakshathangal (1986), her debut feature film.^[2] 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.^[3][4]

In her short career, Monisha collaborated with directors such as M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Hariharan, Priyadarshan, Ajayan, Kamal and Sibi Malayil.^[5]

Monisha Unni was born in Panniyankara, Kozhikode in 1971 to Narayanan Unni and Sreedevi Unni.^[6] 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.^[7] She had an elder brother, Sajith Unni.^[8]

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 in Cherthala X Ray Junction of Alappuzha district of Kerala. She was just 21. Monisha was sleeping on the back seat when the accident occurred. Her mother, Sreedevi was thrown out of the car, but escaped with bruises and fractures. Monisha, however, died within minutes due to cervical fracture. Reports said Monisha was bleeding through her nose and ears. Although she was taken to the nearby hospital, she had died. The driver of their Ambassador car too died in the freak accident. ^[3][9]

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.^[7][10]