M. N. Nambiar
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1919-03-05
Day of Death
2008-11-19 (89 years old)
Place of Birth
Kannur, Kerala, India
M. N. Nambiar
Biography
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.
Acting
(2007)
(2006)
(2003)
Winner
as Velayutham
(2003)
(2003)
Kadhal Sadugudu
as Kausalya`s Grandfather
(2002)
Baba
as Baba's Maternal Uncle
(2002)
(2001)
Vinnukkum Mannukkum
as Cameo
(2001)
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
as Mumtaj's father
(2001)
Sharjah to Sharjah
as Kappithan
(1999)
(1999)
Endrendrum Kadhal
as Sethupathi, Vijay's father
(1999)
Poo Parikka Varugirom
as Narayanan
(1998)
(1998)
(1997)
Vallal
as Dharmarasu
(1997)
Pasamulla Pandiyare
as Nesamani
(1997)
(1996)
Poove Unakkaga
as Sadhasivam
(1995)
(1995)
(1995)
Kattumarakaran
as Vaidehi's grandfather
(1995)
Karuppu Nila
as Nandhini's father
(1994)
(1994)
(1994)
(1993)
Gentleman
as Ramesh's Father
(1993)
Yejaman
as Vaanavarayan's grandfather
(1993)
(1993)
(1993)
Thanga Pappa
as Adaikkalam
(1992)
(1992)
Thanga Manasukkaran
as Sadha Swamy
(1992)
Kaaviya Thalaivan
as Damodaran
(1992)
(1991)
(1991)
Maanagara Kaaval
as IG Jayaprakash
(1991)
Captain Prabhakaran
as Special Task Force Officer
(1991)
Kaaval Nilayam
as Andhavar
(1991)
(1990)
Jagathalaprathapan
as John Frederick
(1990)
(1990)
(1990)
(1990)
Neengalum Herothan
as M. N. Nambiar
(1989)
Paandi Naattu Thangam
as Thangapandian's father
(1989)
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
as Thirumalai Naicker
(1989)
Thaai Naadu
as Saleem Bhai
(1989)
(1988)
(1988)
(1988)
(1988)
(1988)
(1987)
(1987)
Enga Ooru Pattukaran
as Kallampattiyan
(1987)
(1987)
(1987)
(1986)
Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
as Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
(1986)
(1986)
(1985)
Naan Sigappu Manithan
as Senior Police Officer
(1985)
Nermai
as Seetharam
(1985)
Raja Rishi
as Sage Vashishta
(1985)
(1985)
(1985)
(1985)
(1984)
Naan Mahaan Alla
as GMK
(1984)
Ezhuthata Sattaangal
as Farooq
(1984)
(1984)
(1984)
(1984)
(1984)
(1984)
(1984)
(1983)
(1983)
Sandhippu
as Vedagiri
(1983)
(1983)
(1983)
Dowry Kalyanam
as Rowther
(1982)
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
as Vathiyaar
(1982)
(1982)
(1982)
(1982)
(1981)
(1981)
(1981)
(1981)
Thadavara
as Madhavan
(1981)
(1981)
(1980)
(1980)
Sakthi
as Vikraman
(1980)
Guru
as Head of anti-social group
(1980)
(1979)
(1979)
(1979)
Neeya?
as Appu Kuttan
(1979)
Aavesham
as Shekaran
(1978)
(1978)
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
as The Prince Raja Rajan
(1978)
(1977)
Navarathinam
as Dharmaseelan
(1977)
Meenava Nanban
as Arun
(1977)
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
as Guruviah
(1976)
(1975)
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
as Mohan
(1975)
(1974)
Urimai Kural
as Doreswamy
(1974)
(1974)
Netru Indru Naalai
as Rathnam (the false)
(1973)
Rajapart Rangadurai
as Somasundaram
(1973)
(1973)
Rajaraja Cholan
as Bala Thevar
(1973)
(1972)
(1972)
(1971)
(1971)
Savale Samali
as Rajavelu
(1970)
En Annan
as Nayagam
(1969)
(1969)
Kanne Pappa
as Inspector James
(1969)
Deiva Magan
as Ananth
(1969)
Sivandha Mann
as Diwan, the main antagonist
(1969)
Anjal Petti 520
as Nagarajan
(1969)
Nil Gavani Kadhali
as Gang Leader
(1968)
Thillana Mohanambal
as Maharaja of Madhanpur
(1968)
(1968)
(1968)
(1968)
(1968)
(1968)
(1967)
(1967)
Kaavalkaaran
as Marudachalam
(1966)
(1966)
Thanippiravi
as Sub-inspector Soundharam
(1966)
(1966)
(1966)
Thaali Bhagyam
as Namchivayam
(1965)
Aayirathil Oruvan
as Pirate Captain
(1965)
Enga Veettu Pillai
as Gajendran
(1965)
(1964)
Dheiva Thaai
as Madhan
(1964)
(1964)
Thozhilali
as Velu
(1964)
(1964)
(1964)
(1963)
Nenjam Marappathillai
as Zamindar
(1963)
(1963)
(1962)
(1962)
Rani Samyuktha
as Mohammad Ghori
(1961)
Pasamalar
as Rathnam
(1961)
Then Nilavu
as Raj
(1961)
(1960)
(1960)
(1959)
(1959)
(1959)
(1959)
(1958)
(1958)
Uthama Puthiran
as Naganathan
(1958)
(1958)
(1958)
(1957)
(1957)
(1957)
Makkalai Petra Magarasi
as Kannan
(1957)
(1957)
(1957)
(1956)
(1955)
(1953)
(1952)
The Jungle
as Mahaji
(1952)
(1951)
(1951)
(1950)
Thigambara Samiar
as Chokkalingam Pillai
(1950)
(1950)
Manthiri Kumari
as Royal Priest
(1948)
(1947)