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M. N. Nambiar
Born · March 5, 1919
Died · November 19, 2008 (89 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: Kannur, Kerala, India
Bio
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.
Kuttrapathirikai
0.0
2007
Sudesi
5.0
2006
Winner
Velayutham
5.1
2003
Anbe Anbe
6.5
2003
Kadhal Sadugudu
Kausalya`s Grandfather
6.1
2003
Baba
Baba's Maternal Uncle
6.3
2002
Varushamellam Vasantham
0.0
2002
Sharjah to Sharjah
Kappithan
5.3
2001
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
Mumtaj's father
0.0
2001
Vinnukkum Mannukkum
Cameo
2.6
2001
Poo Parikka Varugirom
0.0
1999
Rojavanam
4.0
1999
Endrendrum Kadhal
Sethupathi, Vijay's father
6.0
1999
Poonthottam
0.0
1998
Moovendhar
5.8
1998
Adimai Changili
5.0
1997
Pasamulla Pandiyare
Nesamani
0.0
1997
Vallal
0.0
1997
Poove Unakkaga
Sadhasivam
7.2
1996
Thotta Chinungi
0.0
1995
Raasaiyya
7.0
1995
Kattumarakaran
Vaidehi's grandfather
0.0
1995
Karuppu Nila
Nandhini's father
0.0
1995
Periya Marudhu
3.0
1994
Sethupathi I.P.S
8.0
1994
Paasamalargal
0.0
1994
Gentleman
Ramesh's Father
7.3
1993
Sakkarai Devan
0.0
1993
Thanga Pappa
Adaikkalam
0.0
1993
Yejaman
Vaanavarayan's grandfather
7.1
1993
Ezhai Jaathi
3.0
1993
Villu Pattukaran
6.0
1992
Kaaviya Thalaivan
Damodaran
0.0
1992
Nadodi Paattukkaran
0.0
1992
Thanga Manasukkaran
Sadha Swamy
0.0
1992
Maanagara Kaaval
IG Jayaprakash
0.0
1991
Kaaval Nilayam
Andhavar
3.0
1991
Enga Ooru Sippai
0.0
1991
Captain Prabhakaran
Special Task Force Officer
6.6
1991
Kumbakarai Thangaiah
0.0
1991
Avasara Police 100
0.0
1990
Periya Veettu Panakkaran
0.0
1990
Neengalum Herothan
M. N. Nambiar
0.0
1990
Jagathalaprathapan
John Frederick
5.0
1990
Pulan Visaranai
5.2
1990
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
Thirumalai Naicker
5.0
1989
Paandi Naattu Thangam
Thangapandian's father
0.0
1989
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan
0.0
1989
Thaai Naadu
Saleem Bhai
0.0
1989
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
0.0
1988
Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran
0.0
1988
Nallavan
0.0
1988
Thambi Thanga Kambi
0.0
1988
Poonthotta Kavalkaran
0.0
1988
Uzhavan Magan
4.0
1987
Jallikkattu
5.0
1987
Krishnan Vandhaan
0.0
1987
Enga Ooru Pattukaran
Kallampattiyan
0.0
1987
Velundu Vinaiyillai
5.0
1987
Dharma Devathai
0.0
1986
Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
6.2
1986
Nambinar Keduvadhillai
0.0
1986
Puthiya Theerpu
0.0
1985
Puthiya Theerppu
3.5
1985
Raja Rishi
Sage Vashishta
0.0
1985
Eetti
0.0
1985
Nermai
0.0
1985
Needhiyin Nizhal
0.0
1985
Naan Sigappu Manithan
Senior Police Officer
6.4
1985
Vamsa Vilakku
0.0
1984
Iru Medhaigal
0.0
1984
Ezhudhaadha Sattangal
0.0
1984
Simma Soppanam
0.0
1984
Sarithira Nayagan
0.0
1984
Vaazhkai
6.0
1984
Tharaasu
0.0
1984
Vetri
0.0
1984
Naan Mahaan Alla
GMK
5.0
1984
Miruthanga Chakravarthi
0.0
1983
Saatchi
3.0
1983
Sandhippu
0.0
1983
Dowry Kalyanam
Rowther
0.0
1983
Thai Veedu
4.0
1983
Thai Mookambhikai
0.0
1982
Sangili
0.0
1982
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
Vathiyaar
0.0
1982
Parvaiyin Marupakkam
4.0
1982
Oorukku Oru Pillai
0.0
1982
Thadavara
Madhavan
0.0
1981
Garjanai
0.0
1981
Lorry Driver Rajakannu
0.0
1981
Ram Lakshman
7.0
1981
Kolilakkam
0.0
1981
Deiva Thirumanangal
0.0
1981
Saranam Ayyappa
0.0
1980
Sakthi
Vikraman
0.0
1980
Guru
Head of anti-social group
6.0
1980
Ratha Paasam
0.0
1980
Vetrikku Oruvan
0.0
1979
Aavesham
Shekaran
0.0
1979
Thirisoolam
7.0
1979
Neeya?
Appu Kuttan
6.0
1979
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
4.0
1978
Punniya Boomi
0.0
1978
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
The Prince Raja Rajan
0.0
1978
Meenava Nanban
Arun
0.0
1977
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
Guruviah
6.5
1977
Navarathinam
Dharmaseelan
0.0
1977
Sathyam
0.0
1976
Naalai Namadhe
0.0
1975
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Mohan
4.0
1975
Sirithu Vazha Vendum
6.0
1974
Urimai Kural
Doreswamy
5.5
1974
Netru Indru Naalai
Rathnam (the false)
0.0
1974
Rajapart Rangadurai
Somasundaram
6.5
1973
Errakota Veerudu
4.0
1973
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
5.0
1973
Rajaraja Cholan
Bala Thevar
8.0
1973
Idhaya Veenai
0.0
1972
Raman Thediya Seethai
0.0
1972
Adi Parasakthi
0.0
1971
Savale Samali
Rajavelu
5.5
1971
En Annan
Nayagam
4.5
1970
Sivandha Mann
Diwan, the main antagonist
6.0
1969
Deiva Magan
Ananth
7.0
1969
Anjal Petti 520
Nagarajan
6.0
1969
Kanne Pappa
Inspector James
0.0
1969
Kaaval Dheivam
0.0
1969
Nil Gavani Kadhali
Gang Leader
0.0
1969
Lakshmi Kalyanam
0.0
1968
Harichandra
0.0
1968
Enga Oor Raja
0.0
1968
Thillana Mohanambal
Maharaja of Madhanpur
7.1
1968
Pudhiya Boomi
5.0
1968
Kudiyirundha Koyil
6.5
1968
Ragasiya Police 115
5.0
1968
Kaavalkaaran
Marudachalam
6.0
1967
Arasa Kattalai
5.5
1967
Thanippiravi
Sub-inspector Soundharam
3.5
1966
Thaali Bhagyam
Namchivayam
0.0
1966
Mugaraasi
0.0
1966
Nadodi
8.0
1966
Naan Aanaiyittal
6.2
1966
Aasai Mugam
0.0
1965
Aayirathil Oruvan
Pirate Leader
4.7
1965
Enga Veettu Pillai
Gajendran
7.0
1965
Thaayin Madiyil
5.2
1964
Padagotti
8.0
1964
Thozhilali
Velu
0.0
1964
Dheiva Thaai
Madhan
0.0
1964
En Kadamai
6.0
1964
Vettaikaaran
5.0
1964
Annai Illam
5.0
1963
Nenjam Marappathillai
Zamindar
7.5
1963
Kalai Arasi
0.0
1963
Kudumba Thalaivan
0.0
1962
Rani Samyuktha
Mohammad Ghori
0.0
1962
Then Nilavu
Raj
6.5
1961
Pasamalar
Rathnam
6.6
1961
Thirudadhe
2.0
1961
Arasilangumari
0.0
1960
Ellorum Innattu Mannar
0.0
1960
Bhaaga Pirivinai
8.0
1959
Pelli Naati Pramanalu
0.0
1959
Kalyana Parisu
4.5
1959
Thangapadumai
0.0
1959
Nadodi Mannan
6.0
1958
Illarame Nallaram
0.0
1958
Annaiyin Aanai
0.0
1958
Uthama Puthiran
Naganathan
7.5
1958
Bhuloka Rambhai
0.0
1958
Ambikapathy
0.0
1957
Thangamalai Ragasiyam
7.0
1957
Karpukarasi
0.0
1957
Rajarajan
4.0
1957
Vanangaamudi
0.0
1957
Makkalai Petra Magarasi
Kannan
0.0
1957
Amara Deepam
0.0
1956
Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam
0.0
1955
Naam
0.0
1953
The Jungle
Mahaji
5.0
1952
Andhaman Kaidhi
0.0
1952
Sarvadhikari
0.0
1951
Marmayogi
0.0
1951
Thigambara Samiar
Chokkalingam Pillai
0.0
1950
Manthiri Kumari
Royal Priest
0.0
1950
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
0.0
1950
Mohini
0.0
1948
Raja Kumari
0.0
1947
Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga
0.0