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M. N. Nambiar
Actor

M. N. Nambiar

5 Mar 1919Born
19 Nov 2008Died
89Age at death
227Credits

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.

Read the full biography

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

The 80 most recent of 227 credits.

  1. 2007KuttrapathirikaiFilm
  2. 2006SudesiFilm
  3. 2003WinnerFilm: Velayutham
  4. 2003Anbe AnbeFilm
  5. 2003Kadhal SaduguduFilm: Kausalya`s Grandfather
  6. 2002BabaFilm: Baba's Maternal Uncle
  7. 2002Varushamellam VasanthamFilm
  8. 2001Sharjah to SharjahFilm: Valiya Kappithan
  9. 2001Ninaikkatha NaalillaiFilm
  10. 2001Sonnal Thaan KaadhalaFilm: Mumtaj's father
  11. 2001Vinnukkum MannukkumFilm: Cameo
  12. 1999Poo Parikka VarugiromFilm: Narayanan
  13. 1999RojavanamFilm
  14. 1999Endrendrum KadhalFilm: Sethupathi, Vijay's father
  15. 1998PoonthottamFilm
  16. 1998MoovendharFilm
  17. 1997Thambi DuraiFilm
  18. 1997Adimai ChangiliFilm
  19. 1997Pasamulla PandiyareFilm: Nesamani
  20. 1997VallalFilm: Dharmarasu
  21. 1996Poove UnakkagaFilm: Sadhasivam
  22. 1995Thotta ChinungiFilm
  23. 1995RaasaiyyaFilm
  24. 1995Raja MuthiraiFilm
  25. 1995KattumarakaranFilm: Vaidehi's grandfather
  26. 1995Karuppu NilaFilm: Nandhini's father
  27. 1994Periya MarudhuFilm
  28. 1994PaasamalargalFilm
  29. 1994Sethupathi I.P.SFilm: Ramarathnam
  30. 1993GentlemanFilm: Ramesh's Father
  31. 1993Sakkarai DevanFilm: Sarasu Grandfather
  32. 1993Thanga PappaFilm: Adaikkalam
  33. 1993YejamanFilm: Vaanavarayan's grandfather
  34. 1993Ezhai JaathiFilm: Iyer
  35. 1992Villu PattukaranFilm
  36. 1992Kaaviya ThalaivanFilm: Damodaran
  37. 1992Thai MozhiFilm: Church Father
  38. 1992Nadodi PaattukkaranFilm
  39. 1992Thanga ManasukkaranFilm: Sadha Swamy
  40. 1991Maanagara KaavalFilm: IG Jayaprakash
  41. 1991Kaaval NilayamFilm: Andhavar
  42. 1991Enga Ooru SippaiFilm
  43. 1991Captain PrabhakaranFilm: Special Task Force Officer
  44. 1991Kumbakarai ThangaiahFilm
  45. 1990Avasara Police 100Film
  46. 1990Periya Veettu PanakkaranFilm
  47. 1990Neengalum HerothanFilm: M. N. Nambiar
  48. 1990Kalyana RasiFilm
  49. 1990JagathalaprathapanFilm: John Frederick
  50. 1990Manasukkeththa MappillaiFilm
  51. 1990Pulan VisaranaiFilm: DGP
  52. 1989Meenatchi ThiruvilaiyadalFilm: Thirumalai Naicker
  53. 1989Paandi Naattu ThangamFilm: Thangapandian's father
  54. 1989Paattukku Oru ThalaivanFilm
  55. 1989Thaai NaaduFilm: Saleem Bhai
  56. 1988Manaivi Oru MandhiriFilm
  57. 1988Enga Ooru KaavakkaaranFilm
  58. 1988NallavanFilm
  59. 1988Thambi Thanga KambiFilm
  60. 1988Poonthotta KaavalkaaranFilm
  61. 1988Sakkarai PanthalFilm
  62. 1987Uzhavan MaganFilm
  63. 1987JallikkattuFilm
  64. 1987Krishnan VandhaanFilm
  65. 1987Enga Ooru PattukaranFilm: Kallampattiyan
  66. 1987Velundu VinaiyillaiFilm
  67. 1986Aayiram KannudayaalFilm
  68. 1986Dharma DevathaiFilm
  69. 1986Iravu PookkalFilm
  70. 1986Mella Thirandhadhu KadhavuFilm: Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
  71. 1986Nambinar KeduvadhillaiFilm
  72. 1986Karimedu KaruvayanFilm
  73. 1985Puthiya TheerpuFilm
  74. 1985Raja RishiFilm: Sage Vashishta
  75. 1985Thanga MamaFilm
  76. 1985EettiFilm
  77. 1985NermaiFilm: Seetharam
  78. 1985Elan KandruFilm
  79. 1985Needhiyin NizhalFilm: Krishna Prasad
  80. 1985Naan Sigappu ManithanFilm: Senior Police Officer

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.