Acting
M. N. Nambiar
Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu cinema · 221 credits
Born
5 March 1919
Died
19 November 2008 (aged 89)
Birthplace
Kannur, Kerala, India
Also known as M N Nambiyar · Nambiar · M.N. Nambiar · M.N.Nambiyar
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
Filmography
Winner
as Velayutham
Kadhal Sadugudu
as Kausalya`s Grandfather
Baba
as Baba's Maternal Uncle
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
as Mumtaj's father
Sharjah to Sharjah
as Valiya Kappithan
Endrendrum Kadhal
as Sethupathi
Poo Parikka Varugirom
as Narayanan
Pasamulla Pandiyare
as Nesamani
வள்ளல்
1997
Vallal
as Dharmarasu
Poove Unakkaga
as Sadhasivam
கட்டுமரக்காரன்
1995
Kattumarakaran
as Vaidehi's grandfather
Karuppu Nila
as Nandhini's father
Sethupathi I.P.S
as Ramarathnam
Gentleman
as Ramesh's Father
Yejaman
as Vaanavarayan's grandfather
Sakkarai Devan
as Sarasu Grandfather
தங்க பாப்பா
1993
Thanga Pappa
as Adaikkalam
Thanga Manasukkaran
as Sadha Swamy
தாய் மொழி
1992
Thai Mozhi
as Church Father
Maanagara Kaaval
as IG Jayaprakash
Captain Prabhakaran
as Special Task Force Officer
Jagathalaprathapan
as John Frederick
Neengalum Herothan
as M. N. Nambiar
பாலம்
1990
Paalam
as SP Izhavenil
பாண்டி நாட்டு தங்கம்
1989
Paandi Naattu Thangam
as Thangapandian's father
Thaai Naadu
as Saleem Bhai
மீனாட்சி திருவிளையாடல்
1989
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
as Thirumalai Naicker
Enga Ooru Pattukaran
as Kallampattiyan
Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
as Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
நீதியின் நிழல்
1985
Needhiyin Nizhal
as Krishna Prasad
Naan Sigappu Manithan
as Senior Police Officer
Raja Rishi
as Sage Vashishta
Nermai
as Seetharam
Vetri
Actor
Sandhippu
as Vedagiri
Dowry Kalyanam
as Rowther
சங்கிலி
1982
Sangili
as Tiger Dayanidhi / LION
தூறல் நின்னு போச்சு
1982
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
as Kusthi Vaathiyaar
Ram Lakshman
as Chandrasekar
Thadavara
1981
Thadavara
as Madhavan
Sakthi
as Vikraman
Guru
as Head of anti-social group
Aavesham
as Shekaran
Neeya?
as Appu Kuttan
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
as The Prince Raja Rajan
நவரத்தினம்
1977
Navarathinam
as Dharmaseelan
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
as Guruviah
Urimai Kural
as Doreswamy
Sirithu Vazha Vendum
as Nakanraj
Netru Indru Naalai
as Rathnam
Rajapart Rangadurai
as Somasundaram
Rajaraja Cholan
as Bala Thevar
கண்ணம்மா
1972
Kannamma
as Gnanaprakasam
Kurathi Magan
as Jambilingam
Savale Samali
as Rajavelu
Kulama Gunama
as Nallakannu
En Annan
as Nayagam
கண்ணே பாப்பா
1969
Kanne Pappa
as Inspector James
Deiva Magan
as Ananth
Sivandha Mann
as Diwan
Nil Gavani Kadhali
as Gang Leader
Anjal Petti 520
as Nagarajan
அன்பளிப்பு
1969
Anbalippu
as Vasudevan
ரகசிய போலீஸ் 115
1968
Ragasiya Police 115
as Inspector Kumar / Krishnan
Thillana Mohanambal
as Maharaja of Madhanpur
Kaavalkaaran
as Marudachalam
தனிப்பிறவி
1966
Thanippiravi
as Sub-inspector Soundharam
நாடோடி
1966
Nadodi
as Jambu
தாலி பாக்கியம்
1966
Thaali Bhagyam
as Namchivayam
சந்திரோதயம்
1966
Chandhrodhayam
as Paranthaman
பறக்கும் பாவை
1966
Parakkum Paavai
as Rangasamy
Aayirathil Oruvan
as Pirate Captain
Enga Veettu Pillai
as Gajendran
Nenjam Marappathillai
as Zamindar
Rani Samyuktha
as Mohammad Ghori
Pasamalar
as Rathnam
Nallavan Vazhvan
as Inspector Madhavan
உத்தம புத்திரன்
1958
Uthama Puthiran
as Naganathan
சாரங்கதரா
1958
Sarangadhara
as Mahadevan
அம்பிகாபதி
1957
Ambikapathy
as Ottakoothar
Rambayin Kadhal
as Narada
Tenali Raman
as Rajaguru
டாக்டர் சாவித்ரி
1955
Doctor Savithri
as Krishnamoorthi
Kaveri
as Gnananandar
Sarvadhikari
as Mahavarman
Manthiri Kumari
as Royal Priest
Thigambara Samiar
as Chokkalingam Pillai
Velaikari
as Moorthi / Yogi Hariharadas
Abhimanyu
as Lakkanan
