M. N. Nambiar
M. N. Nambiar (born Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar) was a film actor in Tamil cinema who dominated the industry in the role of villain for around 50 years. Also known as Nambiar Swami or Maha Guruswami, he was a spiritual leader who pioneered the movement of taking pilgrims to Sabarimala. Nambiar started as a hero, Nambiar Guruswami soon started donning the role of a villain — so much so that today his name is synonymous with villainy in Kollywood. Nambiar swami has worked with seven generations of actors. His first pay was Rs.3 with Boys Company. He would retain Rs.1 and send Rs.2 to his mother. He made quite a statement in the early 50s with his portrayal of 11 roles in Digambara Samiyar, one of his films as the Lead. His arresting performance in films such as Manthiri Kumari, Velaikaari, Ayirathil Oruvan, Thillana Mohanambal, Missiyamma and Nenjam Marappadillai paved way for a very successful career that spanned over five decades. A majority of the more than 1000 films that he has done is in Tamil, though he has acted in Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi, besides an English film `Jungle' (with Rod Cameron, the film's hero, directed by William Burke) in which he appears in a few brief scenes. The film was released in 1952. The Hindi film he acted in was a remake of the Tamil Kanavane Kankanda Deivam. After becoming popular in Tamil films he started his own drama troupe called Nambiar Nataka Mandram. They staged two plays — `Kaviyin Kanavu' and a comedy play `Kalyana Supermarket.' Nambiar swami was that rare contradictory personality - a cruel, charming villain on the silver screen while being a very pious man in real life. He was also a pure vegetarian and teetotaler. He was also an ardent devotee of Sabarimala Sri Ayyappan. He has had a long association with the temple, and visited the shrine more than 65 times over the last half a century; this has led to him being called Maha Guruswamy. His colleagues noted that he died during the famous Sabarimala season and it may be due to the blessing of his Lord.
Known For
Credits
- 2006 · Sudesi as
- 2003 · Kadhal Sadugudu as Kausalya`s Grandfather
- 2002 · Varushamellam Vasantham as
- 2001 · Sharjah to Sharjah as Valiya Kappithan
- 2001 · Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala as Mumtaj's father
- 2001 · Vinnukkum Mannukkum as Cameo
- 1999 · Poo Parikka Varugirom as Narayanan
- 1999 · Endrendrum Kadhal as Sethupathi, Vijay's father
- 1998 · Moovendhar as
- 1996 · Poove Unakkaga as Sadhasivam
- 1995 · Thotta Chinungi as
- 1995 · Karuppu Nila as Nandhini's father
- 1994 · Periya Marudhu as
- 1994 · Sethupathi I.P.S as
- 1993 · Sakkarai Devan as
- 1992 · Nadodi Paattukkaran as
- 1991 · Maanagara Kaaval as IG Jayaprakash
- 1991 · Kaaval Nilayam as Andhavar
- 1990 · Periya Veettu Panakkaran as
- 1989 · Paandi Naattu Thangam as Thangapandian's father
- 1988 · Manaivi Oru Mandhiri as
- 1988 · Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran as
- 1988 · Poonthotta Kavalkaran as
- 1987 · Uzhavan Magan as
- 1987 · Jallikkattu as
- 1987 · Enga Ooru Pattukaran as Kallampattiyan
- 1987 · Velundu Vinaiyillai as
- 1986 · Dharma Devathai as
- 1985 · Puthiya Theerppu as
- 1985 · Puthiya Theerpu as
- 1985 · Naan Sigappu Manithan as Senior Police Officer
- 1984 · Vetri as
- 1983 · Thai Veedu as
- 1982 · Thai Mookambhikai as
- 1982 · Parvaiyin Marupakkam as
- 1981 · Thadavara as Madhavan
- 1981 · Lorry Driver Rajakannu as
- 1981 · Ram Lakshman as
- 1979 · Vetrikku Oruvan as
- 1979 · Neeya? as Appu Kuttan
- 1977 · Meenava Nanban as Arun
- 1969 · Sivandha Mann as Diwan, the main antagonist
- 1968 · Enga Oor Raja as
- 1966 · Thaali Bhagyam as Namchivayam
- 1963 · Annai Illam as
- 1958 · Uthama Puthiran as Naganathan
- 1956 · Amara Deepam as
- 1952 · The Jungle as Mahaji
- Future · Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga as
- 2007 · Kuttrapathirikai as
- 2003 · Winner as Velayutham
- 2003 · Anbe Anbe as
- 2002 · Baba as Baba's Maternal Uncle
- 1999 · Rojavanam as
- 1998 · Poonthottam as
- 1997 · Adimai Changili as
- 1997 · Pasamulla Pandiyare as Nesamani
- 1997 · Vallal as Dharmarasu
- 1995 · Raasaiyya as
- 1995 · Kattumarakaran as Vaidehi's grandfather
- 1994 · Paasamalargal as
- 1993 · Gentleman as Ramesh's Father
- 1993 · Thanga Pappa as Adaikkalam
- 1993 · Yejaman as Vaanavarayan's grandfather
- 1993 · Ezhai Jaathi as
- 1992 · Villu Pattukaran as
- 1992 · Kaaviya Thalaivan as Damodaran
- 1992 · Thanga Manasukkaran as Sadha Swamy
- 1991 · Captain Prabhakaran as Special Task Force Officer
- 1991 · Enga Ooru Sippai as
- 1991 · Kumbakarai Thangaiah as
- 1990 · Avasara Police 100 as
- 1990 · Neengalum Herothan as M. N. Nambiar
- 1990 · Jagathalaprathapan as John Frederick
- 1990 · Pulan Visaranai as
- 1989 · Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal as Thirumalai Naicker
- 1989 · Paattukku Oru Thalaivan as
- 1989 · Thaai Naadu as Saleem Bhai
- 1988 · Nallavan as
- 1988 · Thambi Thanga Kambi as
- 1987 · Krishnan Vandhaan as
- 1986 · Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu as Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
- 1986 · Nambinar Keduvadhillai as
- 1985 · Raja Rishi as Sage Vashishta
- 1985 · Eetti as
- 1985 · Nermai as Seetharam
- 1985 · Needhiyin Nizhal as
- 1984 · Vamsa Vilakku as
- 1984 · Iru Medhaigal as
- 1984 · Ezhuthata Sattaangal as Farooq
- 1984 · Simma Soppanam as
- 1984 · Sarithira Nayagan as
- 1984 · Vaazhkai as
- 1984 · Tharaasu as
- 1984 · Naan Mahaan Alla as GMK
- 1983 · Miruthanga Chakravarthi as
- 1983 · Saatchi as
- 1983 · Sandhippu as Vedagiri
- 1983 · Dowry Kalyanam as Rowther
- 1982 · Sangili as
- 1982 · Thooral Ninnu Pochu as Vathiyaar
- 1982 · Oorukku Oru Pillai as
- 1981 · Garjanai as
- 1981 · Kolilakkam as
- 1981 · Deiva Thirumanangal as
- 1980 · Saranam Ayyappa as
- 1980 · Sakthi as Vikraman
- 1980 · Guru as Head of anti-social group
- 1980 · Ratha Paasam as
- 1979 · Aavesham as Shekaran
- 1979 · Thirisoolam as
- 1978 · En Kelvikku Enna Bathil as
- 1978 · Punniya Boomi as
- 1978 · Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan as The Prince Raja Rajan
- 1977 · Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga as Guruviah
- 1977 · Navarathinam as Dharmaseelan
- 1976 · Sathyam as
- 1975 · Naalai Namadhe as
- 1975 · Ninaithadhai Mudippavan as Mohan
- 1974 · Sirithu Vazha Vendum as
- 1974 · Urimai Kural as Doreswamy
- 1974 · Netru Indru Naalai as Rathnam (the false)
- 1973 · Rajapart Rangadurai as Somasundaram
- 1973 · Errakota Veerudu as
- 1973 · Ulagam Sutrum Valiban as
- 1973 · Rajaraja Cholan as Bala Thevar
- 1972 · Idhaya Veenai as
- 1972 · Raman Thediya Seethai as
- 1971 · Adi Parasakthi as
- 1971 · Savale Samali as Rajavelu
- 1970 · En Annan as Nayagam
- 1969 · Deiva Magan as Ananth
- 1969 · Anjal Petti 520 as Nagarajan
- 1969 · Kanne Pappa as Inspector James
- 1969 · Kaaval Dheivam as
- 1969 · Nil Gavani Kadhali as Gang Leader
- 1968 · Lakshmi Kalyanam as
- 1968 · Harichandra as
- 1968 · Thillana Mohanambal as Maharaja of Madhanpur
- 1968 · Pudhiya Boomi as
- 1968 · Kudiyirundha Koyil as
- 1968 · Ragasiya Police 115 as
- 1967 · Kaavalkaaran as Marudachalam
- 1967 · Arasa Kattalai as
- 1966 · Thanippiravi as Sub-inspector Soundharam
- 1966 · Mugaraasi as
- 1966 · Nadodi as
- 1966 · Naan Aanaiyittal as
- 1965 · Aasai Mugam as
- 1965 · Aayirathil Oruvan as Pirate Captain
- 1965 · Enga Veettu Pillai as Gajendran
- 1964 · Thaayin Madiyil as
- 1964 · Padagotti as
- 1964 · Thozhilali as Velu
- 1964 · Dheiva Thaai as Madhan
- 1964 · En Kadamai as
- 1964 · Vettaikaaran as
- 1963 · Nenjam Marappathillai as Zamindar
- 1963 · Kalai Arasi as
- 1962 · Kudumba Thalaivan as
- 1962 · Rani Samyuktha as Mohammad Ghori
- 1961 · Then Nilavu as Raj
- 1961 · Pasamalar as Rathnam
- 1961 · Thirudadhe as
- 1960 · Arasilangumari as
- 1960 · Ellorum Innattu Mannar as
- 1959 · Bhaaga Pirivinai as
- 1959 · Pelli Naati Pramanalu as
- 1959 · Kalyana Parisu as
- 1959 · Thangapadumai as
- 1958 · Nadodi Mannan as
- 1958 · Illarame Nallaram as
- 1958 · Annaiyin Aanai as
- 1958 · Bhuloka Rambhai as
- 1957 · Ambikapathy as
- 1957 · Thangamalai Ragasiyam as
- 1957 · Karpukarasi as
- 1957 · Rajarajan as
- 1957 · Vanangaamudi as
- 1957 · Makkalai Petra Magarasi as Kannan
- 1955 · Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam as
- 1953 · Naam as
- 1952 · Andhaman Kaidhi as
- 1951 · Sarvadhikari as
- 1951 · Marmayogi as
- 1950 · Thigambara Samiar as Chokkalingam Pillai
- 1950 · Manthiri Kumari as Royal Priest
- 1950 · Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi as
- 1948 · Mohini as
- 1947 · Raja Kumari as