Nisa was born in Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district as the daughter of N.P. Unnikrishnan, a school teacher, and Chandrika, an officer in the agriculture department. Nisa Pattambi completed her primary education from St. Mary's High School, Pariapuram and graduated from Sri Neelakanta Government Sanskrit College. After that she completed her B.Ed. from Thrissur Valappad University Teacher Education Center. She then obtained a Diploma in Journalism from the Trivandrum Press Club. Nisa entered the television industry by participating in Vanitharatnam program which was a reality show on Amrita TV. Then she started as an anchor. She has worked as an anchor on Doordarshan, Asianet, Kairali, Amrita and Jai Hind television channels. Worked as a Broadcast Journalist in Media One Channel for five years. Nisa made her acting debut in the movie Careful directed by V.K. Prakash. Then acted in about 10 movies including Ente Mezhuthiri Athazhangal, Halal Love Story, Operation Java, Naradan. Apart from movies, Nisa acted in short films and commercials. Acted in short films Shabdikunna Kalappa (Jayaraj's Ponkunnam Varki's short story based), Katrikutty, Canvas (with Vijay Babu).