M. N. Nambiar

M. N. Nambiar

Date of Birth:

Mar 05, 1919

Place of Birth:

Kannur, Kerala, India

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:

Dheiva Thaai Dheiva Thaai

1964

Sakthi Sakthi

1980

Adimai Changili Adimai Changili

1997

Kaaviya Thalaivan Kaaviya Thalaivan

1992

Pulan Visaranai Pulan Visaranai

1990

Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga

1977

Thaai Naadu Thaai Naadu

1989

Villu Pattukaran Villu Pattukaran

1992

Thooral Ninnu Pochu Thooral Ninnu Pochu

1982

Anbe Anbe Anbe Anbe

2003

Maanagara Kaaval Maanagara Kaaval

1991

Ezhai Jaathi Ezhai Jaathi

1993

Bhaaga Pirivinai Bhaaga Pirivinai

1959

Sudesi Sudesi

2006

Gentleman Gentleman

1993

Harichandra Harichandra

1968

Avasara Police 100 Avasara Police 100

1990

Kolilakkam Kolilakkam

1981

Sakkarai Devan Sakkarai Devan

1993

Guru Guru

1980

Vallal Vallal

1997

Sharjah to Sharjah Sharjah to Sharjah

2001

Enga Ooru Pattukaran Enga Ooru Pattukaran

1987

Thanga Manasukkaran Thanga Manasukkaran

1992

Vettaikaaran Vettaikaaran

1964

Andhaman Kaidhi Andhaman Kaidhi

1952

Ulagam Sutrum Valiban Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

1973

Raman Thediya Seethai Raman Thediya Seethai

1972

Poove Unakkaga Poove Unakkaga

1996

Nadodi Mannan Nadodi Mannan

1958

Thaali Bhagyam Thaali Bhagyam

1966

Kalai Arasi Kalai Arasi

1963

Nadodi Nadodi

1966

Pudhiya Boomi Pudhiya Boomi

1968

Thaayin Madiyil Thaayin Madiyil

1964

Kudiyirundha Koyil Kudiyirundha Koyil

1968

Vinnukkum Mannukkum Vinnukkum Mannukkum

2001

Raasaiyya Raasaiyya

1995

Kaaval Nilayam Kaaval Nilayam

1991

Poonthottam Poonthottam

1998

Kadhal Sadugudu Kadhal Sadugudu

2003

Paasamalargal Paasamalargal

1994

Marmayogi Marmayogi

1951

Mohini Mohini

1948

Winner Winner

2003

Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu

1986

Rajaraja Cholan Rajaraja Cholan

1973

Yejaman Yejaman

1993

Jagathalaprathapan Jagathalaprathapan

1990

Savale Samali Savale Samali

1971

Thanippiravi Thanippiravi

1966

Kanne Pappa Kanne Pappa

1969

Idhaya Veenai Idhaya Veenai

1972

Ninaithadhai Mudippavan Ninaithadhai Mudippavan

1975

Eetti Eetti

1985

Anjal Petti 520 Anjal Petti 520

1969

Thillana Mohanambal Thillana Mohanambal

1968

Naalai Namadhe Naalai Namadhe

1975

Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran

1988

Puthiya Theerpu Puthiya Theerpu

1985

Navarathinam Navarathinam

1977

Kattumarakaran Kattumarakaran

1995

Aavesham Aavesham

1979

Rani Samyuktha Rani Samyuktha

1962

Errakota Veerudu Errakota Veerudu

1973

Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala

2001

Adi Parasakthi Adi Parasakthi

1971

Deiva Thirumanangal Deiva Thirumanangal

1981

Enga Ooru Sippai Enga Ooru Sippai

1991

Pasamulla Pandiyare Pasamulla Pandiyare

1997

Puthiya Theerppu Puthiya Theerppu

1985

Pelli Naati Pramanalu Pelli Naati Pramanalu

1959

Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan

1978

Nil Gavani Kadhali Nil Gavani Kadhali

1969

Baba Baba

2002

Dowry Kalyanam Dowry Kalyanam

1983

Nenjam Marappathillai Nenjam Marappathillai

1963

Amara Deepam Amara Deepam

1956

Kuttrapathirikai Kuttrapathirikai

2007

Thanga Pappa Thanga Pappa

1993

Manaivi Oru Mandhiri Manaivi Oru Mandhiri

1988

Varushamellam Vasantham Varushamellam Vasantham

2002

Thigambara Samiar Thigambara Samiar

1950

Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal

1989

Captain Prabhakaran Captain Prabhakaran

1991

Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa

1980

Annaiyin Aanai Annaiyin Aanai

1958

Lakshmi Kalyanam Lakshmi Kalyanam

1968

Thozhilali Thozhilali

1964

Raja Kumari Raja Kumari

1947

Thadavara Thadavara

1981

Netru Indru Naalai Netru Indru Naalai

1974

Kumbakarai Thangaiah Kumbakarai Thangaiah

1991

Sirithu Vazha Vendum Sirithu Vazha Vendum

1974

Arasilangumari Arasilangumari

1960

Urimai Kural Urimai Kural

1974

Deiva Magan Deiva Magan

1969

Aayirathil Oruvan Aayirathil Oruvan

1965

Illarame Nallaram Illarame Nallaram

1958

Thotta Chinungi Thotta Chinungi

1995

Nadodi Paattukkaran Nadodi Paattukkaran

1992

Moovendhar Moovendhar

1998

Rojavanam Rojavanam

1999

Karuppu Nila Karuppu Nila

1995

Periya Veettu Panakkaran Periya Veettu Panakkaran

1990

Naan Mahaan Alla Naan Mahaan Alla

1984

Raja Rishi Raja Rishi

1985

Ezhudhaadha Sattangal Ezhudhaadha Sattangal

1984

Tharaasu Tharaasu

1984

Sarithira Nayagan Sarithira Nayagan

1984

Kaaval Dheivam Kaaval Dheivam

1969

Oorukku Oru Pillai Oorukku Oru Pillai

1982

Vamsa Vilakku Vamsa Vilakku

1984

Ratha Paasam Ratha Paasam

1980

Lorry Driver Rajakannu Lorry Driver Rajakannu

1981

En Annan En Annan

1970

Endrendrum Kadhal Endrendrum Kadhal

1999

Sethupathi I.P.S Sethupathi I.P.S

1994

Paandi Naattu Thangam Paandi Naattu Thangam

1989

Thai Veedu Thai Veedu

1983

Vetri Vetri

1984

Garjanai Garjanai

1981

Parvaiyin Marupakkam Parvaiyin Marupakkam

1982

Neeya? Neeya?

1979

Naan Sigappu Manithan Naan Sigappu Manithan

1985

Periya Marudhu Periya Marudhu

1994

The Jungle The Jungle

1952

Nambinar Keduvadhillai Nambinar Keduvadhillai

1986

Velundu Vinaiyillai Velundu Vinaiyillai

1987

Saatchi Saatchi

1983

Paattukku Oru Thalaivan Paattukku Oru Thalaivan

1989

Dharma Devathai Dharma Devathai

1986

Thambi Thanga Kambi Thambi Thanga Kambi

1988

Sathyam Sathyam

1976

Poo Parikka Varugirom Poo Parikka Varugirom

1999

Nallavan Nallavan

1988

Thai Mookambhikai Thai Mookambhikai

1982

En Kelvikku Enna Bathil En Kelvikku Enna Bathil

1978

Poonthotta Kavalkaran Poonthotta Kavalkaran

1988

Uzhavan Magan Uzhavan Magan

1987

Nermai Nermai

1985

Sivandha Mann Sivandha Mann

1969

Arasa Kattalai Arasa Kattalai

1967

Kaavalkaaran Kaavalkaaran

1967

Sarvadhikari Sarvadhikari

1951

Ragasiya Police 115 Ragasiya Police 115

1968

Meenava Nanban Meenava Nanban

1977

Thangapadumai Thangapadumai

1959

Kalyana Parisu Kalyana Parisu

1959

Then Nilavu Then Nilavu

1961

Ellorum Innattu Mannar Ellorum Innattu Mannar

1960

Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam

1955

Naan Aanaiyittal Naan Aanaiyittal

1966

Thirudadhe Thirudadhe

1961

Rajarajan Rajarajan

1957

Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi

1950

Mugaraasi Mugaraasi

1966

Enga Veettu Pillai Enga Veettu Pillai

1965

Kudumba Thalaivan Kudumba Thalaivan

1962

Padagotti Padagotti

1964

Naam Naam

1953

Manthiri Kumari Manthiri Kumari

1950

En Kadamai En Kadamai

1964

Aasai Mugam Aasai Mugam

1965

Karpukarasi Karpukarasi

1957

Bhuloka Rambhai Bhuloka Rambhai

1958

Enga Oor Raja Enga Oor Raja

1968

Needhiyin Nizhal Needhiyin Nizhal

1985

Punniya Boomi Punniya Boomi

1978

Rajapart Rangadurai Rajapart Rangadurai

1973

Simma Soppanam Simma Soppanam

1984

Sangili Sangili

1982

Miruthanga Chakravarthi Miruthanga Chakravarthi

1983

Vaazhkai Vaazhkai

1984

Sandhippu Sandhippu

1983

Iru Medhaigal Iru Medhaigal

1984

Annai Illam Annai Illam

1963

Pasamalar Pasamalar

1961

Ambikapathy Ambikapathy

1957

Makkalai Petra Magarasi Makkalai Petra Magarasi

1957

Thirisoolam Thirisoolam

1979

Jallikkattu Jallikkattu

1987

Vetrikku Oruvan Vetrikku Oruvan

1979

Uthama Puthiran Uthama Puthiran

1958

Vanangaamudi Vanangaamudi

1957

Krishnan Vandhaan Krishnan Vandhaan

1987

Thangamalai Ragasiyam Thangamalai Ragasiyam

1957

Ram Lakshman Ram Lakshman

1981

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