Monisha was only 16 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, Meera Jasmine and Surabhi Lakshmi (National Film Award 2017), Monisha Unni is one of five Malayalam actresses who has won the National Film Award for Best Actress. 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.