M. N. Nambiar

Acting · 1.6 popularity

Age

107

Movies

211

Born: March 5, 1919 – November 19, 2008
From: Kannur, Kerala, India

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.

Works

211 films

Mugaraasi

1966

Naam

1953

Rajakumari

19478.0

Vettaikaaran

19645.0

Ragasiya Police 115

19687.0

Andhaman Kaidhi

195210.0

Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan

19789.0

Mohini

1948

Rajarajan

19574.0

Manthiri Kumari

195010.0

Marmayogi

19517.0

Naan Aanaiyittal

19666.8

Sarvadhikari

195110.0

Thaayin Madiyil

19645.2

Nadodi Mannan

19586.3

Thangapadumai

195910.0

Thigambara Samiar

1950

Thirudadhe

19612.0

En Kadamai

19646.0

Uthama Puthiran

19587.3

Aasai Mugam

1965

Arasilangumari

1960

Thangamalai Ragasiyam

19577.0

Nadodi

19668.0

Savale Samali

19715.5

Urimai Kural

19746.7

Thanga Manasukkaran

19929.0

Ambikapathy

19578.0

Vanangaamudi

19577.0

Pudhiya Boomi

19685.0

Neeya?

19797.0

Deiva Thirumanangal

19819.0

Pasamalar

19616.7

Kudumba Thalaivan

1962

Eetti

1985

Bhaaga Pirivinai

19598.0

Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu

19866.4

Thanga Pappa

1993

Thai Veedu

19834.0

Annai Illam

19635.0

Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

19734.8

Varushamellam Vasantham

2002

Baba

20026.3

Periya Marudhu

19943.0

Pulan Visaranai

19906.0

Kaavalkaaran

19677.0

Krishnan Vandhaan

19879.0

Vetri

19848.0

Nyayam

1984

Naan Mahaan Alla

19845.5

Paavathin Sambalam

19786.0

Velaikari

19498.0

Tenali Raman

19568.0

Avasara Police 100

19908.0

Thooral Ninnu Pochu

19829.0

Sakkarai Devan

19939.0

Naalai Namadhe

1975

Naan Sigappu Manithan

19856.4

Nambinar Keduvadhillai

1986

Raasaiyya

19958.0

Pellinaati Pramanalu

19587.0

Thambi Durai

19976.0

Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala

2001

Paandi Naattu Thangam

198910.0

Poove Unakkaga

19967.2

Nallavan Vazhvan

19617.0

Moovendhar

19985.8

Vamsa Vilakku

1984

Tharaasu

1984

Chitor Rani Padmini

19639.0

Abhimanyu

1948

Velundu Vinaiyillai

19875.0

Needhiyin Nizhal

1985

Manaivi Oru Mandhiri

1988

Rambayin Kadhal

1956

Sarangadhara

1958

Devaki

1951

Enga Ooru Pattukaran

198710.0

Raja Rishi

19859.0

Ninaikkatha Naalillai

2001

Dharma Devathai

1986

Aavesham

1979

Kannamma

1972

Naan Yen Pirandhen

1972

Kumbakarai Thangaiah

19917.0

Doctor Savithri

1955

Naan Petra Selvam

1956

Maanagara Kaaval

1991

Aayirathil Oruvan

19655.3

Nallavan

1988

Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi

1950

Anna Nee En Deivam

1976

Chandhrodhayam

1966

Nil Gavani Kadhali

1969

Rani Samyuktha

1962

Anbalippu

1969

Sirithu Vazha Vendum

19746.0

Ram Lakshman

19817.5

Thaai Mookaambikai

19828.0

Iravu Pookkal

1986

Pasamulla Pandiyare

1997

Jagathalaprathapan

19905.0

Ratha Paasam

1980

Neengalum Herothan

1990

Kaaviya Thalaivan

19929.0

Enga Ooru Sippai

1991

Gentleman

19937.3

En Kelvikku Enna Bathil

19785.0

The Jungle

19524.5

Kadhal Sadugudu

20035.9

Sharjah to Sharjah

20015.4

Villu Pattukaran

19926.0

Endrendrum Kadhal

19996.5

Thillana Mohanambal

19687.3

Thaai Naadu

1989

Thotta Chinungi

1995

Winner

20034.6

Deiva Magan

19697.0

Poonthottam

19988.0

Thambi Thanga Kambi

198810.0

Kalyana Parisu

19595.7

En Annan

19706.8

Vinnukkum Mannukkum

20012.6

Kuttrapathirikai

2007

Enga Veettu Pillai

19657.3

Uzhavan Magan

19874.0

Netru Indru Naalai

197410.0

Ezhai Jaathi

19935.0

Sathyam

1976

Yejaman

19937.2

Padagotti

19647.5

Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran

1988

Navarathinam

19778.0

Ninaithadhai Mudippavan

19757.0

Nermai

1985

Simma Soppanam

1984

Meenava Nanban

1977

Sethupathi I.P.S

19948.2

Guru

19806.2

Kalai Arasi

1963

Then Nilavu

19616.5

Captain Prabhakaran

19916.6

Rajapart Rangadurai

19736.5

Idhaya Veenai

19727.0

Dowry Kalyanam

1983

Puthiya Theerppu

19855.3

Periya Veettu Panakkaran

1990

Anbe Anbe

20036.5

Sivandha Mann

19696.0

Karuppu Nila

1995

Rajaraja Cholan

19738.5

Lorry Driver Rajakannu

1981

Dheiva Thaai

1964

Adi Parasakthi

19717.0

Vetrikku Oruvan

19798.0

Sakthi

19808.0

Anjal Petti 520

19696.0

Nenjam Marappathillai

19637.5

Paasamalargal

1994

Paattukku Oru Thalaivan

19898.0

Poo Parikka Varugirom

1999

Kaaval Dheivam

196910.0

Kaaval Nilayam

19913.0

Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga

19778.0

Thirisoolam

19797.0

Sarithira Nayagan

19849.0

Kudiyirundha Koyil

19686.5

Annaiyin Aanai

19588.0

Garjanai

19816.5

Amara Deepam

19569.0

Harichandra

19688.0

Jallikkattu

19877.5

Kolilakkam

19818.0

Vallal

1997

Saranam Ayyappa

1980

Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal

19895.0

Nadodi Paattukkaran

1992

Iru Medhaigal

1984

Rojavanam

19994.0

Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga

19776.5

Illarame Nallaram

19588.0

Saatchi

19833.0

Lakshmi Kalyanam

1968

Karimedu Karuvayan

19866.5

Parvaiyin Marupakkam

19824.0

Vaazhkai

19846.5

Ezhuthatha Sattangal

1984

Raman Thediya Seethai

197210.0

Thanippiravi

19663.5

Sandhippu

19837.0

Thozhilali

1964

Bhooloka Rambai

195810.0

Miruthanga Chakravarthi

1983

Karpukarasi

19579.0

Puthiya Theerpu

1985

Sangili

19827.0

Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran

19887.0

Makkalai Petra Magarasi

19577.0

Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam

19559.0

Sudesi

20065.0

Kattumarakaran

1995

Kanne Pappa

1969

Thadavara

19818.0

Arasa Kattalai

19677.0

Adimai Changili

19975.0

Thaali Bhagyam

1966

Enga Oor Raja

1968

Ellorum Innattu Mannar

19607.0

Oorukku Oru Pillai

1982

Punniya Boomi

1978

Errakota Veerudu

19734.0