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.
Filmography
all 221
Movies 221
Kuttrapathirikai (2007)
Sudesi (2006)
Winner (2003)
Anbe Anbe (2003)
Kadhal Sadugudu (2003)
Baba (2002)
Varushamellam Vasantham (2002)
Sharjah to Sharjah (2001)
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala (2001)
Vinnukkum Mannukkum (2001)
Poo Parikka Varugirom (1999)
Rojavanam (1999)
Endrendrum Kadhal (1999)
Poonthottam (1998)
Moovendhar (1998)
Adimai Changili (1997)
Pasamulla Pandiyare (1997)
Vallal (1997)
Poove Unakkaga (1996)
Thotta Chinungi (1995)
Raasaiyya (1995)
Kattumarakaran (1995)
Karuppu Nila (1995)
Periya Marudhu (1994)
Sethupathi I.P.S (1994)
Paasamalargal (1994)
Gentleman (1993)
Sakkarai Devan (1993)
Thanga Pappa (1993)
Yejaman (1993)
Ezhai Jaathi (1993)
Villu Pattukaran (1992)
Kaaviya Thalaivan (1992)
Nadodi Paattukkaran (1992)
Thanga Manasukkaran (1992)
Maanagara Kaaval (1991)
Kaaval Nilayam (1991)
Enga Ooru Sippai (1991)
Captain Prabhakaran (1991)
Kumbakarai Thangaiah (1991)
Sami Potta Mudichu (1991)
Avasara Police 100 (1990)
Periya Veettu Panakkaran (1990)
Jagathalaprathapan (1990)
Pulan Visaranai (1990)
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal (1989)
Paandi Naattu Thangam (1989)
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan (1989)
Thaai Naadu (1989)
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri (1988)
Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran (1988)
Nallavan (1988)
Thambi Thanga Kambi (1988)
Poonthotta Kavalkaran (1988)
Uzhavan Magan (1987)
Krishnan Vandhaan (1987)
Jallikkattu (1987)
Enga Ooru Pattukaran (1987)
Velundu Vinaiyillai (1987)
Dharma Devathai (1986)
Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu (1986)
Nambinar Keduvadhillai (1986)
Karimedu Karuvayan (1986)
Puthiya Theerppu (1985)
Puthiya Theerpu (1985)
Raja Rishi (1985)
Eetti (1985)
Nermai (1985)
Needhiyin Nizhal (1985)
Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985)
Vamsa Vilakku (1984)
Iru Medhaigal (1984)
Ezhudhaadha Sattangal (1984)
Simma Soppanam (1984)
Sarithira Nayagan (1984)
Vaazhkai (1984)
Tharaasu (1984)
Vetri (1984)
Naan Mahaan Alla (1984)
Miruthanga Chakravarthi (1983)
Saatchi (1983)
Sandhippu (1983)
Dowry Kalyanam (1983)
Thai Veedu (1983)
Thai Mookambhikai (1982)
Sangili (1982)
Thooral Ninnu Pochu (1982)
Parvaiyin Marupakkam (1982)
Oorukku Oru Pillai (1982)
Thadavara (1981)
Garjanai (1981)
Lorry Driver Rajakannu (1981)
Ram Lakshman (1981)
Kolilakkam (1981)
Deiva Thirumanangal (1981)
Saranam Ayyappa (1980)
Sakthi (1980)
Guru (1980)
Ratha Paasam (1980)
Vetrikku Oruvan (1979)
Aavesham (1979)
Thirisoolam (1979)
Neeya? (1979)
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil (1978)
Thacholi Ambu (1978)
Punniya Boomi (1978)
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan (1978)
Meenava Nanban (1977)
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga (1977)
Navarathinam (1977)
Sathyam (1976)
Needhikku Thalaivanangu (1976)
Pallandu Vazhga (1975)
Naalai Namadhe (1975)
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan (1975)
Sirithu Vazha Vendum (1974)
Urimai Kural (1974)
Netru Indru Naalai (1974)
Jesus (1973)
Rajapart Rangadurai (1973)
Errakota Veerudu (1973)
Pattikattu Ponnaiya (1973)
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (1973)
Rajaraja Cholan (1973)
Idhaya Veenai (1972)
Annamitta Kai (1972)
Naan Yen Pirandhen (1972)
Kurathi Magan (1972)
Raman Thediya Seethai (1972)
Oru Thaai Makkal (1971)
Kumari Kottam (1971)
Adi Parasakthi (1971)
Savale Samali (1971)
Kulama Gunama (1971)
Thangaikkaaga (1971)
Praptham (1971)
Raman Ethanai Ramanadi (1970)
En Annan (1970)
Sivandha Mann (1969)
Deiva Magan (1969)
Anjal Petti 520 (1969)
Kanne Pappa (1969)
Kaaval Dheivam (1969)
Nil Gavani Kadhali (1969)
Lakshmi Kalyanam (1968)
Harichandra (1968)
Enga Oor Raja (1968)
Thillana Mohanambal (1968)
Pudhiya Boomi (1968)
Kudiyirundha Koyil (1968)
Ragasiya Police 115 (1968)
Kaavalkaaran (1967)
Arasa Kattalai (1967)
Parakkum Paavai (1966)
Thanippiravi (1966)
Thaali Bhagyam (1966)
Mugaraasi (1966)
Chandhrodhayam (1966)
Nadodi (1966)
Naan Aanaiyittal (1966)
Aasai Mugam (1965)
Thazhampoo (1965)
Kanni Thaai (1965)
Lighthouse (1965)
Aayirathil Oruvan (1965)
Enga Veettu Pillai (1965)
Thaayin Madiyil (1964)
Padagotti (1964)
Thozhilali (1964)
Dheiva Thaai (1964)
En Kadamai (1964)
Vettaikaaran (1964)
Ezhai Pangalan (1963)
Parisu (1963)
Annai Illam (1963)
Nenjam Marappathillai (1963)
Kalai Arasi (1963)
Panathottam (1963)
Kudumba Thalaivan (1962)
Maadappura (1962)
Rani Samyuktha (1962)
Thai Sollai Thattathe (1961)
Then Nilavu (1961)
Nallavan Vazhvan (1961)
Pasamalar (1961)
Thirudadhe (1961)
Nitchaya Thamboolam (1961)
Arasilangumari (1960)
Ellorum Innattu Mannar (1960)
Baghdadh Thirudan (1960)
Bhaaga Pirivinai (1959)
Pelli Naati Pramanalu (1959)
Kalyana Parisu (1959)
Thangapadumai (1959)
Nadodi Mannan (1958)
Illarame Nallaram (1958)
Annaiyin Aanai (1958)
Uthama Puthiran (1958)
Bhuloka Rambhai (1958)
Ambikapathy (1957)
Thangamalai Ragasiyam (1957)
Karpukarasi (1957)
Rajarajan (1957)
Vanangaamudi (1957)
Makkalai Petra Magarasi (1957)
Iru Sahodarigal (1956)
Rambayin Kadhal (1956)
Amara Deepam (1956)
Devta (1956)
Gunasundari (1955)
Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam (1955)
Naam (1953)
The Jungle (1952)
Andhaman Kaidhi (1952)
Sarvadhikari (1951)
Marmayogi (1951)
Thigambara Samiar (1950)
Manthiri Kumari (1950)
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi (1950)
Mohini (1948)
Raja Kumari (1947)
Ratings
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1919-03-07
Deathday2008-11-19 (89 years old)
Birth PlaceKannur, India
CitizenshipsDominion of India, British Raj, India
Also Known AsM N Nambiyar, Nambiar, M.N. Nambiar, M.N.Nambiyar
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
- M. N. Nambiar
- Filmography
- Information
- Related Persons