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.
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
223
Gender
Male
Birthday
1919-03-05
Place of Birth
Kannur, Kerala, India
Also Known As
M N Nambiyar, Nambiar, M.N. Nambiar, M.N.Nambiyar
Known For
Jagathalaprathapan
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Idhaya Veenai
Savale Samali
Thanippiravi
Ram Lakshman
Gentleman
Kanne Pappa
The Jungle
Kattumarakaran
Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran
Puthiya Theerpu
Aavesham
Adi Parasakthi
Deiva Thirumanangal
Urimai Kural
Needhiyin Nizhal
Punniya Boomi
Rajapart Rangadurai
Enga Oor Raja
Annai Illam
Vanangaamudi
Uthama Puthiran
Makkalai Petra Magarasi
Thangamalai Ragasiyam
Ambikapathy
Jallikkattu
Vetrikku Oruvan
Thirisoolam
Krishnan Vandhaan
Pasamalar
Illarame Nallaram
Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam
Kalyana Parisu
Karpukarasi
Ellorum Innattu Mannar
Then Nilavu
Bhooloka Rambai
Naan Mahaan Alla
Enga Ooru Sippai
Pasamulla Pandiyare
Aayirathil Oruvan
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
Garjanai
Thai Veedu
Nambinar Keduvadhillai
Neeya?
Parvaiyin Marupakkam
Velundu Vinaiyillai
Vetri
En Annan
Saatchi
Dharma Devathai
Sathyam
Uzhavan Magan
Naan Sigappu Manithan
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan
Thaai Mookaambikai
Nallavan
Periya Veettu Panakkaran
Sethupathi I.P.S
Moovendhar
Thambi Thanga Kambi
Nadodi Paattukkaran
Yejaman
Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran
Thotta Chinungi
Karuppu Nila
Paandi Naattu Thangam
Endrendrum Kadhal
Poo Parikka Varugirom
Rojavanam
Raja Rishi
Ratha Paasam
Lorry Driver Rajakannu
Nermai
Vamsa Vilakku
Simma Soppanam
Miruthanga Chakravarthi
Iru Medhaigal
Ezhuthatha Sattangal
Sarithira Nayagan
Vaazhkai
Tharaasu
Sandhippu
Oorukku Oru Pillai
Sangili
Deiva Magan
Sivandha Mann
Kaaval Dheivam
Raman Thediya Seethai
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
Pudhiya Boomi
Sirithu Vazha Vendum
Mugaraasi
Meenava Nanban
Nadodi
Ragasiya Police 115
Thaali Bhagyam
Kudiyirundha Koyil
Kaavalkaaran
Vettaikaaran
Aasai Mugam
Kudumba Thalaivan
Enga Veettu Pillai
Thirudadhe
Sarvadhikari
Thaayin Madiyil
En Kadamai
Arasa Kattalai
Padagotti
Rajarajan
Naan Aanaiyittal
Kalai Arasi
Andhaman Kaidhi
Mohini
Manthiri Kumari
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
Naam
Nadodi Mannan
Arasilangumari
Marmayogi
Poove Unakkaga
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
Errakota Veerudu
Winner
Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
Rani Samyuktha
Kaaval Nilayam
Enga Ooru Pattukaran
Thaai Naadu
Villu Pattukaran
Paasamalargal
Kadhal Sadugudu
Vinnukkum Mannukkum
Raasaiyya
Thanga Manasukkaran
Poonthottam
Navarathinam
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
Anbe Anbe
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
Pulan Visaranai
Dheiva Thaai
Sakthi
Adimai Changili
Periya Marudhu
Kaaviya Thalaivan
Maanagara Kaaval
Sakkarai Devan
Ezhai Jaathi
Guru
Vallal
Sharjah to Sharjah
Kolilakkam
Avasara Police 100
Thangapadumai
Bhaaga Pirivinai
Neengalum Herothan
Sudesi
Harichandra
Rajaraja Cholan
Thanga Pappa
Kuttrapathirikai
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
Varushamellam Vasantham
Nenjam Marappathillai
Amara Deepam
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
Nil Gavani Kadhali
Baba
Dowry Kalyanam
Thigambara Samiar
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
Thadavara
Netru Indru Naalai
Kumbakarai Thangaiah
Rajakumari
Thozhilali
Captain Prabhakaran
Saranam Ayyappa
Annaiyin Aanai
Lakshmi Kalyanam
Pellinaati Pramanalu
Puthiya Theerpu
Anjal Petti 520
Eetti
Thillana Mohanambal
Naalai Namadhe
Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga
Chitor Rani Padmini
Naan Petra Selvam
Rambayin Kadhal
Chandhrodhayam
Velaikari
Nallavan Vazhvan
Sarangadhara
Devaki
Doctor Savithri
Kannamma
Abhimanyu
Anna Nee En Deivam
Ninaikkatha Naalillai
Anbalippu
Iravu Pookkal
Tenali Raman
Naan Yen Pirandhen
Nyayam
Paavathin Sambalam
Thambi Durai
Karimedu Karuvayan
Thai Mozhi
Raja Muthirai
Elan Kandru
Aayiram Kannudayaal
Pozhuthu Vidinchachu
Sakkarai Panthal
Manasukkeththa Mappillai
Thanga Mama
Kurathi Magan
Parakkum Paavai
Dhikku Theriyadha Kaattil
Ezhai Pangalan