M. N. Nambiar
Born
March 5, 1919
Died
November 19, 2008 (89 years old)
Known For
Acting
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.

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
