M. N. Nambiar
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- March 5, 1919
- Died
- November 19, 2008 (aged 89)
- Birthplace
- 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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Alaigal
TV · as Acha · 1 ep
Kuttrapathirikai
Movie
Sudesi
Movie
Winner
Movie · as Velayutham
Kadhal Sadugudu
Movie · as Kausalya`s Grandfather
Anbe Anbe
Movie
Varushamellam Vasantham
Movie
Baba
Movie · as Baba's Maternal Uncle
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
Movie · as Mumtaj's father
Vinnukkum Mannukkum
Movie
Sharjah to Sharjah
Movie · as Valiya Kappithan
Ninaikkatha Naalillai
Movie
Endrendrum Kadhal
Movie · as Sethupathi
Poo Parikka Varugirom
Movie · as Narayanan
Rojavanam
Movie
Moovendhar
Movie
Poonthottam
Movie
Pasamulla Pandiyare
Movie · as Nesamani
Adimai Changili
Movie
Vallal
Movie · as Dharmarasu
Thambi Durai
Movie
Poove Unakkaga
Movie · as Sadhasivam
Kattumarakaran
Movie · as Vaidehi's grandfather
Thotta Chinungi
Movie
Karuppu Nila
Movie · as Nandhini's father
Raasaiyya
Movie
Raja Muthirai
Movie
Sethupathi I.P.S
Movie · as Ramarathnam
Paasamalargal
Movie
Periya Marudhu
Movie
Thai Maaman
Movie · as Arivudai Nambi, CMO Of TN
Gentleman
Movie · as Ramesh's Father
Yejaman
Movie · as Vaanavarayan's grandfather
Ezhai Jaathi
Movie · as Iyer
Sakkarai Devan
Movie · as Sarasu Grandfather
Thanga Pappa
Movie · as Adaikkalam
Nadodi Paattukkaran
Movie
Villu Pattukaran
Movie
Thanga Manasukkaran
Movie · as Sadha Swamy
Kaaviya Thalaivan
Movie · as Damodaran
Thai Mozhi
Movie · as Church Father
Enga Ooru Sippai
Movie
Kaaval Nilayam
Movie · as Andhavar
Maanagara Kaaval
Movie · as IG Jayaprakash
Kumbakarai Thangaiah
Movie
Captain Prabhakaran
Movie · as Special Task Force Officer
Jagathalaprathapan
Movie · as John Frederick
Periya Veettu Panakkaran
Movie
Pulan Visaranai
Movie · as DGP
Avasara Police 100
Movie
Neengalum Herothan
Movie · as M. N. Nambiar
Manasukkeththa Mappillai
Movie
Kalyana Rasi
Movie
Paalam
Movie · as SP Izhavenil
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan
Movie
Paandi Naattu Thangam
Movie · as Thangapandian's father
Thaai Naadu
Movie · as Saleem Bhai
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
Movie · as Thirumalai Naicker
Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran
Movie
Nallavan
Movie
Thambi Thanga Kambi
Movie
Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran
Movie
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
Movie
Sakkarai Panthal
Movie
Jallikkattu
Movie · as Dheenadalayan
Krishnan Vandhaan
Movie
Velundu Vinaiyillai
Movie
Uzhavan Magan
Movie · as Marudhamalai
Enga Ooru Pattukaran
Movie · as Kallampattiyan
Vilangu
Movie · as International smuggler
Anjatha Singam
Movie · as Max
Dharma Devathai
Movie
Nambinar Keduvadhillai
Movie
Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
Movie · as Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
Iravu Pookkal
Movie
Karimedu Karuvayan
Movie
Aayiram Kannudayaal
Movie
Needhiyin Nizhal
Movie · as Krishna Prasad
Naan Sigappu Manithan
Movie · as Senior Police Officer
Raja Rishi
Movie · as Sage Vashishta
Nermai
Movie · as Seetharam
Puthiya Theerpu
Movie
Eetti
Movie
Elan Kandru
Movie
Thanga Mama
Movie
Naan Mahaan Alla
Movie · as GMK
Vetri
Movie
Iru Medhaigal
Movie
Vamsa Vilakku
Movie
Sarithira Nayagan
Movie
Simma Soppanam
Movie
Ezhuthatha Sattangal
Movie · as Farooq
Vaazhkai
Movie
Tharaasu
Movie
Nyayam
Movie
Pozhuthu Vidinchachu
Movie
Saatchi
Movie
Thai Veedu
Movie
Miruthanga Chakravarthi
Movie
Sandhippu
Movie · as Vedagiri
Dowry Kalyanam
Movie · as Rowther
Parvaiyin Marupakkam
Movie
Thaai Mookaambikai
Movie
Sangili
Movie · as Tiger Dayanidhi / LION
Oorukku Oru Pillai
Movie
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
Movie · as Kusthi Vaathiyaar
Ram Lakshman
Movie · as Chandrasekar
Deiva Thirumanangal
Movie
Garjanai
Movie
Lorry Driver Rajakannu
Movie
Kolilakkam
Movie
Thadavara
Movie · as Madhavan
Ratha Paasam
Movie
Sakthi
Movie · as Vikraman
Guru
Movie · as Head of anti-social group
Saranam Ayyappa
Movie
Aavesham
Movie · as Shekaran
Thirisoolam
Movie
Vetrikku Oruvan
Movie
Neeya?
Movie · as Appu Kuttan
Punniya Boomi
Movie
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
Movie
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
Movie · as The Prince Raja Rajan
Paavathin Sambalam
Movie
Meenava Nanban
Movie · as Arun
Navarathinam
Movie · as Dharmaseelan
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
Movie · as Guruviah
Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga
Movie
Sathyam
Movie
Anna Nee En Deivam
Movie
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Movie · as Mohan
Naalai Namadhe
Movie
Mannavan Vanthaanadi
Movie · as Punyakodi
Urimai Kural
Movie · as Doreswamy
Sirithu Vazha Vendum
Movie · as Nakanraj
Netru Indru Naalai
Movie · as Rathnam
Thaai
Movie · as Kumar
Rajapart Rangadurai
Movie · as Somasundaram
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
Movie
Errakota Veerudu
Movie
Rajaraja Cholan
Movie · as Bala Thevar
Ponnunjal
Movie · as Ponnan
Idhaya Veenai
Movie
Raman Thediya Seethai
Movie
Kannamma
Movie · as Gnanaprakasam
Naan Yen Pirandhen
Movie · as Rajan
Kurathi Magan
Movie · as Jambilingam
Dhikku Theriyadha Kaattil
Movie · as Kali Muthu
Savale Samali
Movie · as Rajavelu
Adi Parasakthi
Movie
Kulama Gunama
Movie · as Nallakannu
En Annan
Movie · as Nayagam
Kanne Pappa
Movie · as Inspector James
Sivandha Mann
Movie · as Diwan
Kaaval Dheivam
Movie
Deiva Magan
Movie · as Ananth
Nil Gavani Kadhali
Movie · as Gang Leader
Anjal Petti 520
Movie · as Nagarajan
Anbalippu
Movie · as Vasudevan
Enga Oor Raja
Movie · as Rajankam
Ragasiya Police 115
Movie · as Inspector Kumar / Krishnan
Pudhiya Boomi
Movie
Kudiyirundha Koyil
Movie
Harichandra
Movie
Lakshmi Kalyanam
Movie
Thillana Mohanambal
Movie · as Maharaja of Madhanpur
Arasa Kattalai
Movie
Kaavalkaaran
Movie · as Marudachalam
Thanippiravi
Movie · as Sub-inspector Soundharam
Nadodi
Movie · as Jambu
Naan Aanaiyittal
Movie
Mugaraasi
Movie
Thaali Bhagyam
Movie · as Namchivayam
Chandhrodhayam
Movie · as Paranthaman
Parakkum Paavai
Movie · as Rangasamy
Aayirathil Oruvan
Movie · as Pirate Captain
Aasai Mugam
Movie
Enga Veettu Pillai
Movie · as Gajendran
Vettaikaaran
Movie
Padagotti
Movie
Thaayin Madiyil
Movie
En Kadamai
Movie
Dheiva Thaai
Movie · as Madhan
Thozhilali
Movie · as Velu
Annai Illam
Movie
Kalai Arasi
Movie
Nenjam Marappathillai
Movie · as Zamindar
Chitor Rani Padmini
Movie · as Malik Kafur
Ezhai Pangalan
Movie
Kudumba Thalaivan
Movie
Rani Samyuktha
Movie · as Mohammad Ghori
Madappura
Movie · as Kannan
Pasamalar
Movie · as Rathnam
Then Nilavu
Movie · as Raj
Thirudadhe
Movie
Nallavan Vazhvan
Movie · as Inspector Madhavan
Ellorum Innattu Mannar
Movie
Arasilangumari
Movie
Kalyana Parisu
Movie
Bhaaga Pirivinai
Movie · as Mani
Thangapadumai
Movie
Uthama Puthiran
Movie · as Naganathan
Illarame Nallaram
Movie
Bhooloka Rambai
Movie
Nadodi Mannan
Movie
Annaiyin Aanai
Movie
Pellinaati Pramanalu
Movie
Sarangadhara
Movie · as Mahadevan
Thangamalai Ragasiyam
Movie
Makkalai Petra Magarasi
Movie · as Kannan
Ambikapathy
Movie · as Ottakoothar
Vanangaamudi
Movie
Karpukarasi
Movie
Rajarajan
Movie
Amara Deepam
Movie
Naan Petra Selvam
Movie · as Sundar
Rambayin Kadhal
Movie · as Narada
Tenali Raman
Movie · as Rajaguru
Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam
Movie
Doctor Savithri
Movie · as Krishnamoorthi
Kaveri
Movie · as Gnananandar
En Magal
Movie · as Balu
Naam
Movie
The Jungle
Movie · as Mahaji
Andhaman Kaidhi
Movie
Marmayogi
Movie
Sarvadhikari
Movie · as Mahavarman
Devaki
Movie · as Gopu
Manthiri Kumari
Movie · as Royal Priest
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
Movie
Thigambara Samiar
Movie · as Chokkalingam Pillai
Velaikari
Movie · as Moorthi / Yogi Hariharadas
Mohini
Movie
Abhimanyu
Movie · as Lakkanan
Rajakumari
Movie