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
- 2001 · Sharjah to Sharjah as Valiya Kappithan
- 1999 · Poo Parikka Varugirom as Narayanan
- 1999 · Rojavanam as
- 1998 · Poonthottam as
- 1997 · Pasamulla Pandiyare as Nesamani
- 1997 · Vallal as Dharmarasu
- 1995 · Thotta Chinungi as
- 1995 · Karuppu Nila as Nandhini's father
- 1994 · Sethupathi I.P.S as
- 1993 · Yejaman as Vaanavarayan's grandfather
- 1993 · Ezhai Jaathi as
- 1991 · Captain Prabhakaran as Special Task Force Officer
- 1991 · Kumbakarai Thangaiah as
- 1990 · Periya Veettu Panakkaran as
- 1990 · Jagathalaprathapan as John Frederick
- 1987 · Jallikkattu as
- 1984 · Iru Medhaigal as
- 1983 · Dowry Kalyanam as Rowther
- 1982 · Thooral Ninnu Pochu as Vathiyaar
- 1980 · Saranam Ayyappa as
- 1980 · Guru as Head of anti-social group
- 1980 · Ratha Paasam as
- 1979 · Thirisoolam as
- 1973 · Rajapart Rangadurai as Somasundaram
- 1969 · Sivandha Mann as Diwan, the main antagonist
- 1968 · Thillana Mohanambal as Maharaja of Madhanpur
- 1966 · Naan Aanaiyittal as
- 1964 · Thaayin Madiyil as
- 1964 · En Kadamai as
- 1961 · Thirudadhe as
- Future · Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga as
- 2003 · Anbe Anbe 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
- 2001 · Vinnukkum Mannukkum as Cameo
- 1999 · Endrendrum Kadhal as Sethupathi, Vijay's father
- 1998 · Moovendhar as
- 1997 · Adimai Changili as
- 1996 · Poove Unakkaga as Sadhasivam
- 1995 · Raasaiyya as
- 1995 · Kattumarakaran as Vaidehi's grandfather
- 1994 · Periya Marudhu as
- 1994 · Paasamalargal as
- 1993 · Gentleman as Ramesh's Father
- 1993 · Sakkarai Devan as
- 1993 · Thanga Pappa as Adaikkalam
- 1992 · Villu Pattukaran as
- 1992 · Kaaviya Thalaivan as Damodaran
- 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
- 1990 · Avasara Police 100 as
- 1990 · Neengalum Herothan as M. N. Nambiar
- 1990 · Pulan Visaranai as
- 1989 · Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal as Thirumalai Naicker
- 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 · 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 · 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 · Ezhuthata Sattaangal as Farooq
- 1984 · Simma Soppanam as
- 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 · 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 · Lorry Driver Rajakannu as
- 1981 · Ram Lakshman as
- 1981 · Kolilakkam as
- 1981 · Deiva Thirumanangal as
- 1980 · Sakthi as Vikraman
- 1979 · Vetrikku Oruvan as
- 1979 · Aavesham as Shekaran
- 1979 · Neeya? as Appu Kuttan
- 1978 · En Kelvikku Enna Bathil as
- 1978 · Punniya Boomi as
- 1978 · Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan as The Prince Raja Rajan
- 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 · Sirithu Vazha Vendum as
- 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 · Harichandra as
- 1968 · Enga Oor Raja as
- 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 · Thaali Bhagyam as Namchivayam
- 1966 · Mugaraasi as
- 1966 · Nadodi as
- 1965 · Aasai Mugam as
- 1965 · Aayirathil Oruvan as Pirate Captain
- 1965 · Enga Veettu Pillai as Gajendran
- 1964 · Padagotti 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 · Kudumba Thalaivan as
- 1962 · Rani Samyuktha as Mohammad Ghori
- 1961 · Then Nilavu as Raj
- 1961 · Pasamalar as Rathnam
- 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 · Uthama Puthiran as Naganathan
- 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
- 1956 · Amara Deepam as
- 1955 · Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam as
- 1953 · Naam as
- 1952 · The Jungle as Mahaji
- 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