M. N. Nambiar
Acting
- Born:
- 1919-03-05
- Died:
- 2008-11-19
- Place of birth:
- 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
Filmography
Kuttrapathirikai
Sudesi
Winner
Anbe Anbe
Kadhal Sadugudu
Baba
Varushamellam Vasantham
Sharjah to Sharjah
Ninaikkatha Naalillai
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
Vinnukkum Mannukkum
Poo Parikka Varugirom
Rojavanam
Endrendrum Kadhal
Poonthottam
Moovendhar
Thambi Durai
Adimai Changili
Pasamulla Pandiyare
Vallal
Poove Unakkaga
Thotta Chinungi
Raasaiyya
Raja Muthirai
Kattumarakaran
Karuppu Nila
Periya Marudhu
Paasamalargal
Sethupathi I.P.S
Gentleman
Sakkarai Devan
Thanga Pappa
Yejaman
Ezhai Jaathi
Villu Pattukaran
Kaaviya Thalaivan
Thai Mozhi
Nadodi Paattukkaran
Thanga Manasukkaran
Maanagara Kaaval
Kaaval Nilayam
Enga Ooru Sippai
Captain Prabhakaran
Kumbakarai Thangaiah
Avasara Police 100
Periya Veettu Panakkaran
Neengalum Herothan
Kalyana Rasi
Jagathalaprathapan
Manasukkeththa Mappillai
Pulan Visaranai
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
Paandi Naattu Thangam
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan
Thaai Naadu
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran
Nallavan
Thambi Thanga Kambi
Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran
Sakkarai Panthal
Uzhavan Magan
Jallikkattu
Krishnan Vandhaan
Enga Ooru Pattukaran
Velundu Vinaiyillai
Aayiram Kannudayaal
Dharma Devathai
Iravu Pookkal
Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
Nambinar Keduvadhillai
Karimedu Karuvayan
Puthiya Theerpu
Raja Rishi
Thanga Mama
Eetti
Nermai
Elan Kandru
Needhiyin Nizhal
Naan Sigappu Manithan
Vamsa Vilakku
Iru Medhaigal
Ezhuthatha Sattangal
Simma Soppanam
Sarithira Nayagan
Nyayam
Vaazhkai
Tharaasu
Pozhuthu Vidinchachu
Vetri
Naan Mahaan Alla
Miruthanga Chakravarthi
Saatchi
Sandhippu
Dowry Kalyanam
Thai Veedu
Thaai Mookaambikai
Sangili
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
Parvaiyin Marupakkam
Oorukku Oru Pillai
Thadavara
Garjanai
Lorry Driver Rajakannu
Ram Lakshman
Kolilakkam
Deiva Thirumanangal
Saranam Ayyappa
Sakthi
Guru
Ratha Paasam
Vetrikku Oruvan
Aavesham
Thirisoolam
Neeya?
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
Paavathin Sambalam
Punniya Boomi
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
Meenava Nanban
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga
Navarathinam
Sathyam
Anna Nee En Deivam
Mannavan Vanthaanadi
Naalai Namadhe
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Sirithu Vazha Vendum
Urimai Kural
Netru Indru Naalai
Thaai
Rajapart Rangadurai
Errakota Veerudu
Ponnunjal
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
Rajaraja Cholan
Idhaya Veenai
Kannamma
Naan Yen Pirandhen
Kurathi Magan
Raman Thediya Seethai
Dhikku Theriyadha Kaattil
Adi Parasakthi
Savale Samali
Kulama Gunama
En Annan
Sivandha Mann
Deiva Magan
Anjal Petti 520
Kanne Pappa
Kaaval Dheivam
Nil Gavani Kadhali
Anbalippu
Lakshmi Kalyanam
Harichandra
Enga Oor Raja
Thillana Mohanambal
Pudhiya Boomi
Kudiyirundha Koyil
Ragasiya Police 115
Kaavalkaaran
Arasa Kattalai
Parakkum Paavai
Thanippiravi
Thaali Bhagyam
Mugaraasi
Chandhrodhayam
Nadodi
Naan Aanaiyittal
Aasai Mugam
Aayirathil Oruvan
Enga Veettu Pillai
Thaayin Madiyil
Padagotti
Thozhilali
Dheiva Thaai
En Kadamai
Vettaikaaran
Ezhai Pangalan
Annai Illam
Nenjam Marappathillai
Kalai Arasi
Chitor Rani Padmini
Kudumba Thalaivan
Rani Samyuktha
Then Nilavu
Nallavan Vazhvan
Pasamalar
Thirudadhe
Arasilangumari
Ellorum Innattu Mannar
Bhaaga Pirivinai
Kalyana Parisu
Thangapadumai
Pellinaati Pramanalu
Nadodi Mannan
Sarangadhara
Illarame Nallaram
Annaiyin Aanai
Uthama Puthiran
Bhooloka Rambai
Ambikapathy
Thangamalai Ragasiyam
Karpukarasi
Rajarajan
Vanangaamudi
Makkalai Petra Magarasi
Rambayin Kadhal
Amara Deepam
Tenali Raman
Naan Petra Selvam
Doctor Savithri
Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam
Kaveri
Naam
The Jungle
Andhaman Kaidhi
Sarvadhikari
Devaki
Marmayogi
Thigambara Samiar
Manthiri Kumari
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
Velaikari
Mohini
Abhimanyu
Rajakumari