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
- 2006 · Sudesi as
- 2003 · Winner as Velayutham
- 2003 · Kadhal Sadugudu as Kausalya`s Grandfather
- 2002 · Baba as Baba's Maternal Uncle
- 2002 · Varushamellam Vasantham as
- 2001 · Sharjah to Sharjah as Kappithan
- 2001 · Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala as Mumtaj's father
- 2001 · Vinnukkum Mannukkum as Cameo
- 1999 · Poo Parikka Varugirom as
- 1999 · Rojavanam as
- 1999 · Endrendrum Kadhal as Sethupathi, Vijay's father
- 1998 · Poonthottam as
- 1997 · Adimai Changili as
- 1996 · Poove Unakkaga as Sadhasivam
- 1995 · Thotta Chinungi as
- 1995 · Raasaiyya as
- 1994 · Periya Marudhu as
- 1994 · Sethupathi I.P.S as
- 1994 · Paasamalargal as
- 1993 · Gentleman as Ramesh's Father
- 1993 · Sakkarai Devan as
- 1993 · Yejaman as Vaanavarayan's grandfather
- 1992 · Villu Pattukaran as
- 1992 · Kaaviya Thalaivan as Damodaran
- 1992 · Thanga Manasukkaran as Sadha Swamy
- 1991 · Maanagara Kaaval as IG Jayaprakash
- 1991 · Kaaval Nilayam as Andhavar
- 1991 · Captain Prabhakaran as Special Task Force Officer
- 1991 · Kumbakarai Thangaiah as
- 1990 · Avasara Police 100 as
- 1990 · Periya Veettu Panakkaran as
- 1990 · Pulan Visaranai as
- 1989 · Paandi Naattu Thangam as Thangapandian's father
- 1989 · Paattukku Oru Thalaivan as
- 1989 · Thaai Naadu as Saleem Bhai
- 1988 · Manaivi Oru Mandhiri as
- 1988 · Nallavan as
- 1988 · Thambi Thanga Kambi as
- 1987 · Uzhavan Magan as
- 1987 · Krishnan Vandhaan as
- 1987 · Jallikkattu as
- 1987 · Enga Ooru Pattukaran as Kallampattiyan
- 1986 · Dharma Devathai as
- 1986 · Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu as Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
- 1985 · Puthiya Theerppu as
- 1985 · Raja Rishi as Sage Vashishta
- 1985 · Naan Sigappu Manithan as Senior Police Officer
- 1984 · Iru Medhaigal as
- 1984 · Vaazhkai as
- 1984 · Naan Mahaan Alla as GMK
- 1983 · Dowry Kalyanam as Rowther
- 1983 · Thai Veedu as
- 1982 · Thai Mookambhikai as
- 1982 · Thooral Ninnu Pochu as Vathiyaar
- 1981 · Garjanai as
- 1981 · Ram Lakshman as
- 1981 · Kolilakkam as
- 1980 · Sakthi as Vikraman
- 1980 · Guru as Head of anti-social group
- 1979 · Thirisoolam as
- 1979 · Neeya? as Appu Kuttan
- 1977 · Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga as Guruviah
- 1977 · Navarathinam as Dharmaseelan
- 1975 · Ninaithadhai Mudippavan as Mohan
- 1974 · Urimai Kural as Doreswamy
- 1973 · Rajapart Rangadurai as Somasundaram
- 1973 · Ulagam Sutrum Valiban as
- 1972 · Idhaya Veenai as
- 1970 · En Annan as Nayagam
- 1969 · Sivandha Mann as Diwan, the main antagonist
- 1968 · Harichandra as
- 1968 · Enga Oor Raja as
- 1968 · Thillana Mohanambal as Maharaja of Madhanpur
- 1968 · Kudiyirundha Koyil as
- 1968 · Ragasiya Police 115 as
- 1967 · Arasa Kattalai as
- 1966 · Thaali Bhagyam as Namchivayam
- 1965 · Aayirathil Oruvan as Pirate Leader
- 1965 · Enga Veettu Pillai as Gajendran
- 1964 · Padagotti as
- 1964 · En Kadamai as
- 1962 · Kudumba Thalaivan as
- 1961 · Pasamalar as Rathnam
- 1959 · Bhaaga Pirivinai as
- 1959 · Pelli Naati Pramanalu as
- 1959 · Kalyana Parisu as
- 1958 · Nadodi Mannan as
- 1958 · Annaiyin Aanai as
- 1958 · Uthama Puthiran as Naganathan
- 1957 · Thangamalai Ragasiyam as
- 1956 · Amara Deepam as
- 1952 · The Jungle as Mahaji
- 1950 · Manthiri Kumari as Royal Priest
- 1950 · Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi as
- Future · Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga as
- 2003 · Anbe Anbe as
- 1998 · Moovendhar as
- 1997 · Pasamulla Pandiyare as Nesamani
- 1997 · Vallal as Dharmarasu
- 1995 · Kattumarakaran as Vaidehi's grandfather
- 1995 · Karuppu Nila as Nandhini's father
- 1993 · Thanga Pappa as Adaikkalam
- 1993 · Ezhai Jaathi as
- 1992 · Nadodi Paattukkaran as
- 1991 · Enga Ooru Sippai as
- 1990 · Neengalum Herothan as M. N. Nambiar
- 1990 · Jagathalaprathapan as John Frederick
- 1989 · Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal as Thirumalai Naicker
- 1988 · Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran as
- 1988 · Poonthotta Kavalkaran as
- 1987 · Velundu Vinaiyillai as
- 1986 · Nambinar Keduvadhillai as
- 1985 · Puthiya Theerpu as
- 1985 · Eetti as
- 1985 · Nermai as
- 1985 · Needhiyin Nizhal as
- 1984 · Vamsa Vilakku as
- 1984 · Ezhudhaadha Sattangal as
- 1984 · Simma Soppanam as
- 1984 · Sarithira Nayagan as
- 1984 · Tharaasu as
- 1984 · Vetri as
- 1983 · Miruthanga Chakravarthi as
- 1983 · Saatchi as
- 1983 · Sandhippu as
- 1982 · Sangili as
- 1982 · Parvaiyin Marupakkam as
- 1982 · Oorukku Oru Pillai as
- 1981 · Thadavara as Madhavan
- 1981 · Lorry Driver Rajakannu as
- 1981 · Deiva Thirumanangal as
- 1980 · Saranam Ayyappa as
- 1980 · Ratha Paasam as
- 1979 · Vetrikku Oruvan as
- 1979 · Aavesham as Shekaran
- 1978 · En Kelvikku Enna Bathil as
- 1978 · Punniya Boomi as
- 1978 · Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan as The Prince Raja Rajan
- 1977 · Meenava Nanban as Arun
- 1976 · Sathyam as
- 1975 · Naalai Namadhe as
- 1974 · Sirithu Vazha Vendum as
- 1974 · Netru Indru Naalai as Rathnam (the false)
- 1973 · Errakota Veerudu as
- 1973 · Rajaraja Cholan as Bala Thevar
- 1972 · Raman Thediya Seethai as
- 1971 · Adi Parasakthi as
- 1971 · Savale Samali as Rajavelu
- 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 · Pudhiya Boomi as
- 1967 · Kaavalkaaran as Marudachalam
- 1966 · Thanippiravi as Sub-inspector Soundharam
- 1966 · Mugaraasi as
- 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 · Vettaikaaran as
- 1963 · Annai Illam as
- 1963 · Nenjam Marappathillai as Zamindar
- 1963 · Kalai Arasi as
- 1962 · Rani Samyuktha as Mohammad Ghori
- 1961 · Then Nilavu as Raj
- 1961 · Thirudadhe as
- 1960 · Arasilangumari as
- 1960 · Ellorum Innattu Mannar as
- 1959 · Thangapadumai as
- 1958 · Illarame Nallaram as
- 1958 · Bhuloka Rambhai as
- 1957 · Ambikapathy 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
- 1948 · Mohini as
- 1947 · Raja Kumari as