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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.

Known for

Baba

Baba

Gentleman

Gentleman

Yejaman

Yejaman

Thillana Mohanambal

Thillana Mohanambal

Kuttrapathirikai

2007

Sudesi

2006

Winner

Velayutham

2003

Anbe Anbe

2003

Kadhal Sadugudu

Kausalya`s Grandfather

2003

Baba

Baba's Maternal Uncle

2002

Varushamellam Vasantham

2002

Sharjah to Sharjah

Kappithan

2001

Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala

Mumtaj's father

2001

Vinnukkum Mannukkum

Cameo

2001

Poo Parikka Varugirom

Narayanan

1999

Rojavanam

1999

Endrendrum Kadhal

Sethupathi, Vijay's father

1999

Poonthottam

1998

Moovendhar

1998

Adimai Changili

1997

Pasamulla Pandiyare

Nesamani

1997

Vallal

Dharmarasu

1997

Poove Unakkaga

Sadhasivam

1996

Thotta Chinungi

1995

Raasaiyya

1995

Kattumarakaran

Vaidehi's grandfather

1995

Karuppu Nila

Nandhini's father

1995

Periya Marudhu

1994

Sethupathi I.P.S

1994

Paasamalargal

1994

Gentleman

Ramesh's Father

1993

Sakkarai Devan

1993

Thanga Pappa

Adaikkalam

1993

Yejaman

Vaanavarayan's grandfather

1993

Ezhai Jaathi

1993

Villu Pattukaran

1992

Kaaviya Thalaivan

Damodaran

1992

Nadodi Paattukkaran

1992

Thanga Manasukkaran

Sadha Swamy

1992

Maanagara Kaaval

IG Jayaprakash

1991

Kaaval Nilayam

Andhavar

1991

Enga Ooru Sippai

1991

Captain Prabhakaran

Special Task Force Officer

1991

Kumbakarai Thangaiah

1991

Avasara Police 100

1990

Periya Veettu Panakkaran

1990

Neengalum Herothan

M. N. Nambiar

1990

Jagathalaprathapan

John Frederick

1990

Pulan Visaranai

1990

Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal

Thirumalai Naicker

1989

Paandi Naattu Thangam

Thangapandian's father

1989

Paattukku Oru Thalaivan

1989

Thaai Naadu

Saleem Bhai

1989

Manaivi Oru Mandhiri

1988

Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran

1988

Nallavan

1988

Thambi Thanga Kambi

1988

Poonthotta Kavalkaran

1988

Uzhavan Magan

1987

Jallikkattu

1987

Krishnan Vandhaan

1987

Enga Ooru Pattukaran

Kallampattiyan

1987

Velundu Vinaiyillai

1987

Dharma Devathai

1986

Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu

Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father

1986

Nambinar Keduvadhillai

1986

Puthiya Theerpu

1985

Puthiya Theerppu

1985

Raja Rishi

Sage Vashishta

1985

Eetti

1985

Nermai

Seetharam

1985

Needhiyin Nizhal

1985

Naan Sigappu Manithan

Senior Police Officer

1985

Vamsa Vilakku

1984

Iru Medhaigal

1984

Ezhuthata Sattaangal

Farooq

1984

Simma Soppanam

1984

Sarithira Nayagan

1984

Vaazhkai

1984

Tharaasu

1984

Vetri

1984

Naan Mahaan Alla

GMK

1984

Miruthanga Chakravarthi

1983

Saatchi

1983

Sandhippu

Vedagiri

1983

Dowry Kalyanam

Rowther

1983

Thai Veedu

1983

Thai Mookambhikai

1982

Sangili

1982

Thooral Ninnu Pochu

Vathiyaar

1982

Parvaiyin Marupakkam

1982

Oorukku Oru Pillai

1982

Thadavara

Madhavan

1981

Garjanai

1981

Lorry Driver Rajakannu

1981

Ram Lakshman

1981

Kolilakkam

1981

Deiva Thirumanangal

1981

Saranam Ayyappa

1980

Sakthi

Vikraman

1980

Guru

Head of anti-social group

1980

Ratha Paasam

1980

Vetrikku Oruvan

1979

Aavesham

Shekaran

1979

Thirisoolam

1979

Neeya?

Appu Kuttan

1979

En Kelvikku Enna Bathil

1978

Punniya Boomi

1978

Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan

The Prince Raja Rajan

1978

Meenava Nanban

Arun

1977

Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga

Guruviah

1977

Navarathinam

Dharmaseelan

1977

Sathyam

1976

Naalai Namadhe

1975

Ninaithadhai Mudippavan

Mohan

1975

Sirithu Vazha Vendum

1974

Urimai Kural

Doreswamy

1974

Netru Indru Naalai

Rathnam (the false)

1974

Rajapart Rangadurai

Somasundaram

1973

Errakota Veerudu

1973

Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

1973

Rajaraja Cholan

Bala Thevar

1973

Idhaya Veenai

1972

Raman Thediya Seethai

1972

Adi Parasakthi

1971

Savale Samali

Rajavelu

1971

En Annan

Nayagam

1970

Sivandha Mann

Diwan, the main antagonist

1969

Deiva Magan

Ananth

1969

Anjal Petti 520

Nagarajan

1969

Kanne Pappa

Inspector James

1969

Kaaval Dheivam

1969

Nil Gavani Kadhali

Gang Leader

1969

Lakshmi Kalyanam

1968

Harichandra

1968

Enga Oor Raja

1968

Thillana Mohanambal

Maharaja of Madhanpur

1968

Pudhiya Boomi

1968

Kudiyirundha Koyil

1968

Ragasiya Police 115

1968

Kaavalkaaran

Marudachalam

1967

Arasa Kattalai

1967

Thanippiravi

Sub-inspector Soundharam

1966

Thaali Bhagyam

Namchivayam

1966

Mugaraasi

1966

Nadodi

1966

Naan Aanaiyittal

1966

Aasai Mugam

1965

Aayirathil Oruvan

Pirate Captain

1965

Enga Veettu Pillai

Gajendran

1965

Thaayin Madiyil

1964

Padagotti

1964

Thozhilali

Velu

1964

Dheiva Thaai

Madhan

1964

En Kadamai

1964

Vettaikaaran

1964

Annai Illam

1963

Nenjam Marappathillai

Zamindar

1963

Kalai Arasi

1963

Kudumba Thalaivan

1962

Rani Samyuktha

Mohammad Ghori

1962

Then Nilavu

Raj

1961

Pasamalar

Rathnam

1961

Thirudadhe

1961

Arasilangumari

1960

Ellorum Innattu Mannar

1960

Bhaaga Pirivinai

1959

Pelli Naati Pramanalu

1959

Kalyana Parisu

1959

Thangapadumai

1959

Nadodi Mannan

1958

Illarame Nallaram

1958

Annaiyin Aanai

1958

Uthama Puthiran

Naganathan

1958

Bhuloka Rambhai

1958

Ambikapathy

1957

Thangamalai Ragasiyam

1957

Karpukarasi

1957

Rajarajan

1957

Vanangaamudi

1957

Makkalai Petra Magarasi

Kannan

1957

Amara Deepam

1956

Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam

1955

Naam

1953

The Jungle

Mahaji

1952

Andhaman Kaidhi

1952

Sarvadhikari

1951

Marmayogi

1951

Thigambara Samiar

Chokkalingam Pillai

1950

Manthiri Kumari

Royal Priest

1950

Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi

1950

Mohini

1948

Raja Kumari

1947

Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga