M. N. Nambiar

Acting · 1.7 popularity

Age

107

Movies

210

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

210 films

Mugaraasi

1966

Ragasiya Police 115

19687.0

Naam

1953

Rajakumari

19478.0

Vettaikaaran

19645.0

Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan

19789.0

Andhaman Kaidhi

195210.0

Rajarajan

19574.0

Mohini

1948

Marmayogi

19517.0

Manthiri Kumari

195010.0

Sarvadhikari

195110.0

Thigambara Samiar

1950

Thaayin Madiyil

19645.2

Naan Aanaiyittal

19666.8

Thirudadhe

19612.0

En Kadamai

19646.0

Nadodi Mannan

19586.3

Thangapadumai

195910.0

Aasai Mugam

1965

Thangamalai Ragasiyam

19577.0

Uthama Puthiran

19587.3

Arasilangumari

1960

Urimai Kural

19746.7

Nadodi

19668.0

Vanangaamudi

19577.0

Ambikapathy

19578.0

Pudhiya Boomi

19685.0

Thanga Manasukkaran

19929.0

Savale Samali

19715.5

Pasamalar

19616.7

Annai Illam

19635.0

Thai Veedu

19834.0

Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

19734.8

Kudumba Thalaivan

1962

Deiva Thirumanangal

19819.0

Bhaaga Pirivinai

19598.0

Eetti

1985

Neeya?

19797.0

Periya Marudhu

19943.0

Paavathin Sambalam

19786.0

Varushamellam Vasantham

2002

Krishnan Vandhaan

19879.0

Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu

19866.4

Naan Mahaan Alla

19845.5

Thanga Pappa

1993

Sakkarai Devan

19939.0

Avasara Police 100

19908.0

Nyayam

1984

Naan Sigappu Manithan

19856.4

Pulan Visaranai

19906.0

Thooral Ninnu Pochu

19829.0

Baba

20026.3

Kaavalkaaran

19677.0

Thambi Durai

19976.0

Kannamma

1972

Vetri

19848.0

Needhiyin Nizhal

1985

Paandi Naattu Thangam

198910.0

Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala

2001

Nambinar Keduvadhillai

1986

Tharaasu

1984

Moovendhar

19985.8

Velaikari

19498.0

Raasaiyya

19958.0

Velundu Vinaiyillai

19875.0

Enga Ooru Pattukaran

198710.0

Naalai Namadhe

1975

Pellinaati Pramanalu

19587.0

Devaki

1951

Raja Rishi

19859.0

Kumbakarai Thangaiah

19917.0

Poove Unakkaga

19967.2

Tenali Raman

19568.0

Manaivi Oru Mandhiri

1988

Naan Petra Selvam

1956

Nallavan Vazhvan

19617.0

Vamsa Vilakku

1984

Rambayin Kadhal

1956

Naan Yen Pirandhen

1972

Chitor Rani Padmini

19639.0

Abhimanyu

1948

Sarangadhara

1958

Dharma Devathai

1986

Sirithu Vazha Vendum

19746.0

Maanagara Kaaval

1991

Nallavan

1988

Ninaikkatha Naalillai

2001

Chandhrodhayam

1966

Anna Nee En Deivam

1976

Aayirathil Oruvan

19655.3

Doctor Savithri

1955

Aavesham

1979

Pasamulla Pandiyare

1997

Rani Samyuktha

1962

Nil Gavani Kadhali

1969

Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi

1950

Ram Lakshman

19817.5

Thaai Mookaambikai

19828.0

Anbalippu

1969

Iravu Pookkal

1986

Neengalum Herothan

1990

Jagathalaprathapan

19905.0

Ratha Paasam

1980

Enga Ooru Sippai

1991

En Kelvikku Enna Bathil

19785.0

Gentleman

19937.3

Kaaviya Thalaivan

19929.0

Meenava Nanban

1977

Thillana Mohanambal

19687.3

The Jungle

19524.5

Sharjah to Sharjah

20015.4

Kadhal Sadugudu

20035.9

Idhaya Veenai

19727.0

Kalai Arasi

1963

Vinnukkum Mannukkum

20012.6

Harichandra

19688.0

Thaai Naadu

1989

Endrendrum Kadhal

19996.5

Enga Veettu Pillai

19657.3

Kuttrapathirikai

2007

Then Nilavu

19616.5

Captain Prabhakaran

19916.6

Poonthottam

19988.0

Thambi Thanga Kambi

198810.0

Kalyana Parisu

19595.7

Sivandha Mann

19696.0

Villu Pattukaran

19926.0

Padagotti

19647.5

En Annan

19706.8

Sethupathi I.P.S

19948.2

Makkalai Petra Magarasi

19577.0

Simma Soppanam

1984

Winner

20034.6

Kolilakkam

19818.0

Rajapart Rangadurai

19736.5

Paattukku Oru Thalaivan

19898.0

Periya Veettu Panakkaran

1990

Sathyam

1976

Amara Deepam

19569.0

Yejaman

19937.2

Netru Indru Naalai

197410.0

Anjal Petti 520

19696.0

Deiva Magan

19697.0

Vaazhkai

19846.5

Adi Parasakthi

19717.0

Annaiyin Aanai

19588.0

Kudiyirundha Koyil

19686.5

Nenjam Marappathillai

19637.5

Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran

1988

Guru

19806.2

Rajaraja Cholan

19738.5

Navarathinam

19778.0

Vallal

1997

Thotta Chinungi

1995

Kaaval Nilayam

19913.0

Anbe Anbe

20036.5

Sarithira Nayagan

19849.0

Garjanai

19816.5

Saranam Ayyappa

1980

Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga

19778.0

Iru Medhaigal

1984

Ninaithadhai Mudippavan

19757.0

Karuppu Nila

1995

Uzhavan Magan

19874.0

Karpukarasi

19579.0

Puthiya Theerppu

19855.3

Dowry Kalyanam

1983

Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga

19776.5

Adimai Changili

19975.0

Ezhai Jaathi

19935.0

Rojavanam

19994.0

Sudesi

20065.0

Raman Thediya Seethai

197210.0

Kaaval Dheivam

196910.0

Sandhippu

19837.0

Lorry Driver Rajakannu

1981

Sakthi

19808.0

Miruthanga Chakravarthi

1983

Thirisoolam

19797.0

Bhooloka Rambai

195810.0

Nermai

1985

Kattumarakaran

1995

Jallikkattu

19877.5

Paasamalargal

1994

Ezhuthatha Sattangal

1984

Vetrikku Oruvan

19798.0

Lakshmi Kalyanam

1968

Thanippiravi

19663.5

Illarame Nallaram

19588.0

Sangili

19827.0

Parvaiyin Marupakkam

19824.0

Thadavara

19818.0

Enga Oor Raja

1968

Thozhilali

1964

Dheiva Thaai

1964

Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam

19559.0

Thaali Bhagyam

1966

Saatchi

19833.0

Nadodi Paattukkaran

1992

Arasa Kattalai

19677.0

Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal

19895.0

Poo Parikka Varugirom

1999

Puthiya Theerpu

1985

Ellorum Innattu Mannar

19607.0

Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran

19887.0

Kanne Pappa

1969

Errakota Veerudu

19734.0

Oorukku Oru Pillai

1982

Punniya Boomi

1978