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
- 2007 · Kuttrapathirikai as
- 2003 · Winner as Velayutham
- 2003 · Anbe Anbe as
- 2001 · Sharjah to Sharjah as Valiya Kappithan
- 2001 · Vinnukkum Mannukkum as Cameo
- 1998 · Poonthottam as
- 1997 · Vallal as Dharmarasu
- 1995 · Thotta Chinungi as
- 1995 · Karuppu Nila as Nandhini's father
- 1994 · Paasamalargal as
- 1993 · Yejaman as Vaanavarayan's grandfather
- 1992 · Villu Pattukaran as
- 1992 · Kaaviya Thalaivan as Damodaran
- 1991 · Captain Prabhakaran as Special Task Force Officer
- 1990 · Periya Veettu Panakkaran as
- 1989 · Thaai Naadu as Saleem Bhai
- 1984 · Simma Soppanam as
- 1982 · Thooral Ninnu Pochu as Vathiyaar
- 1981 · Lorry Driver Rajakannu as
- 1980 · Ratha Paasam as
- 1979 · Aavesham as Shekaran
- 1978 · En Kelvikku Enna Bathil as
- 1978 · Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan as The Prince Raja Rajan
- 1974 · Sirithu Vazha Vendum as
- 1973 · Rajapart Rangadurai as Somasundaram
- 1969 · Sivandha Mann as Diwan, the main antagonist
- 1968 · Harichandra as
- 1968 · Thillana Mohanambal as Maharaja of Madhanpur
- 1968 · Pudhiya Boomi as
- 1968 · Ragasiya Police 115 as
- 1966 · Mugaraasi as
- 1965 · Aayirathil Oruvan as Pirate Captain
- 1965 · Enga Veettu Pillai as Gajendran
- 1964 · Padagotti as
- 1964 · Vettaikaaran as
- 1963 · Kalai Arasi as
- 1962 · Rani Samyuktha as Mohammad Ghori
- 1960 · Arasilangumari as
- 1959 · Pelli Naati Pramanalu as
- 1957 · Rajarajan as
- 1957 · Vanangaamudi as
- 1953 · Naam as
- 1952 · Andhaman Kaidhi as
- 1950 · Manthiri Kumari as Royal Priest
- Future · Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga as
- 2006 · Sudesi as
- 2003 · Kadhal Sadugudu as Kausalya`s Grandfather
- 2002 · Baba as Baba's Maternal Uncle
- 2002 · Varushamellam Vasantham as
- 2001 · Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala as Mumtaj's father
- 1999 · Poo Parikka Varugirom as Narayanan
- 1999 · Rojavanam as
- 1999 · Endrendrum Kadhal as Sethupathi, Vijay's father
- 1998 · Moovendhar as
- 1997 · Adimai Changili as
- 1997 · Pasamulla Pandiyare as Nesamani
- 1996 · Poove Unakkaga as Sadhasivam
- 1995 · Raasaiyya as
- 1995 · Kattumarakaran as Vaidehi's grandfather
- 1994 · Periya Marudhu as
- 1994 · Sethupathi I.P.S as
- 1993 · Gentleman as Ramesh's Father
- 1993 · Sakkarai Devan as
- 1993 · Thanga Pappa as Adaikkalam
- 1993 · Ezhai Jaathi as
- 1992 · Nadodi Paattukkaran as
- 1992 · Thanga Manasukkaran as Sadha Swamy
- 1991 · Maanagara Kaaval as IG Jayaprakash
- 1991 · Kaaval Nilayam as Andhavar
- 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 · Paandi Naattu Thangam as Thangapandian's father
- 1989 · Paattukku Oru Thalaivan as
- 1988 · Manaivi Oru Mandhiri as
- 1988 · Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran as
- 1988 · Nallavan as
- 1988 · Thambi Thanga Kambi as
- 1988 · Poonthotta Kavalkaran as
- 1987 · Uzhavan Magan as
- 1987 · Krishnan Vandhaan as
- 1987 · Jallikkattu as
- 1987 · Enga Ooru Pattukaran as Kallampattiyan
- 1987 · Velundu Vinaiyillai as
- 1986 · Dharma Devathai as
- 1986 · Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu as Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
- 1986 · Nambinar Keduvadhillai as
- 1985 · Puthiya Theerppu as
- 1985 · Puthiya Theerpu as
- 1985 · Raja Rishi as Sage Vashishta
- 1985 · Eetti as
- 1985 · Nermai as Seetharam
- 1985 · Naan Sigappu Manithan as Senior Police Officer
- 1985 · Needhiyin Nizhal as
- 1984 · Vamsa Vilakku as
- 1984 · Iru Medhaigal as
- 1984 · Ezhuthata Sattaangal as Farooq
- 1984 · Sarithira Nayagan as
- 1984 · Vaazhkai as
- 1984 · Tharaasu as
- 1984 · Vetri as
- 1984 · Naan Mahaan Alla as GMK
- 1983 · Miruthanga Chakravarthi as
- 1983 · Saatchi as
- 1983 · Sandhippu as Vedagiri
- 1983 · Dowry Kalyanam as Rowther
- 1983 · Thai Veedu as
- 1982 · Thai Mookambhikai as
- 1982 · Sangili as
- 1982 · Parvaiyin Marupakkam as
- 1982 · Oorukku Oru Pillai as
- 1981 · Thadavara as Madhavan
- 1981 · Garjanai as
- 1981 · Ram Lakshman as
- 1981 · Kolilakkam as
- 1981 · Deiva Thirumanangal as
- 1980 · Saranam Ayyappa as
- 1980 · Sakthi as Vikraman
- 1980 · Guru as Head of anti-social group
- 1979 · Vetrikku Oruvan as
- 1979 · Thirisoolam as
- 1979 · Neeya? as Appu Kuttan
- 1978 · Punniya Boomi as
- 1977 · Meenava Nanban as Arun
- 1977 · Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga as Guruviah
- 1977 · Navarathinam as Dharmaseelan
- 1976 · Sathyam as
- 1975 · Naalai Namadhe as
- 1975 · Ninaithadhai Mudippavan as Mohan
- 1974 · Urimai Kural as Doreswamy
- 1974 · Netru Indru Naalai as Rathnam (the false)
- 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 · Enga Oor Raja as
- 1968 · Kudiyirundha Koyil as
- 1967 · Kaavalkaaran as Marudachalam
- 1967 · Arasa Kattalai as
- 1966 · Thanippiravi as Sub-inspector Soundharam
- 1966 · Thaali Bhagyam as Namchivayam
- 1966 · Nadodi as
- 1966 · Naan Aanaiyittal as
- 1965 · Aasai Mugam as
- 1964 · Thaayin Madiyil as
- 1964 · Thozhilali as Velu
- 1964 · Dheiva Thaai as Madhan
- 1964 · En Kadamai as
- 1963 · Annai Illam as
- 1963 · Nenjam Marappathillai as Zamindar
- 1962 · Kudumba Thalaivan as
- 1961 · Then Nilavu as Raj
- 1961 · Pasamalar as Rathnam
- 1961 · Thirudadhe as
- 1960 · Ellorum Innattu Mannar as
- 1959 · Bhaaga Pirivinai as
- 1959 · Kalyana Parisu as
- 1959 · Thangapadumai as
- 1958 · Nadodi Mannan as
- 1958 · Illarame Nallaram as
- 1958 · Annaiyin Aanai as
- 1958 · Uthama Puthiran as Naganathan
- 1958 · Bhuloka Rambhai as
- 1957 · Ambikapathy as
- 1957 · Thangamalai Ragasiyam as
- 1957 · Karpukarasi as
- 1957 · Makkalai Petra Magarasi as Kannan
- 1956 · Amara Deepam as
- 1955 · Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam as
- 1952 · The Jungle as Mahaji
- 1951 · Sarvadhikari as
- 1951 · Marmayogi as
- 1950 · Thigambara Samiar as Chokkalingam Pillai
- 1950 · Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi as
- 1948 · Mohini as
- 1947 · Raja Kumari as