A lighting unit includes a reflector, a plurality of light-emitting elements and a controller. The light-emitting elements are respectively provided on the reflector for a plurality of light-emitting regions. The controller supplies a periodic drive signal to each of the light-emitting elements, thereby defining a state of the light-emitting element. The lighting unit illuminates a display panel including a light modulating layer with light that has been emitted from the light-emitting elements. The controller supplies drive signals of substantially different types to at least two of the light-emitting elements.