M. N. Nambiar

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: Acting

Born: Kannur, Kerala, India, 1919-03-05

Died: 2008-11-19

No.	Year	Title	Role	Vote Average
1	1947	Raja Kumari		0
2	1948	Mohini		0
3	1950	Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi		0
4	1950	Manthiri Kumari	Royal Priest	0
5	1950	Thigambara Samiar	Chokkalingam Pillai	0
6	1951	Marmayogi		0
7	1951	Sarvadhikari		0
8	1952	Andhaman Kaidhi		0
9	1952	The Jungle	Mahaji	30
10	1953	Naam		0
11	1955	Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam		0
12	1956	Amara Deepam		0
13	1957	Makkalai Petra Magarasi	Kannan	0
14	1957	Vanangaamudi		0
15	1957	Rajarajan		40
16	1957	Karpukarasi		0
17	1957	Thangamalai Ragasiyam		70
18	1957	Ambikapathy		0
19	1958	Bhuloka Rambhai		0
20	1958	Uthama Puthiran	Naganathan	75
21	1958	Annaiyin Aanai		0
22	1958	Illarame Nallaram		0
23	1958	Nadodi Mannan		60
24	1959	Thangapadumai		0
25	1959	Kalyana Parisu		45
26	1959	Pelli Naati Pramanalu		0
27	1959	Bhaaga Pirivinai		80
28	1960	Ellorum Innattu Mannar		0
29	1960	Arasilangumari		0
30	1961	Thirudadhe		20
31	1961	Pasamalar	Rathnam	66
32	1961	Then Nilavu	Raj	65
33	1962	Rani Samyuktha	Mohammad Ghori	0
34	1962	Kudumba Thalaivan		0
35	1963	Kalai Arasi		0
36	1963	Nenjam Marappathillai	Zamindar	75
37	1963	Annai Illam		50
38	1964	Vettaikaaran		50
39	1964	En Kadamai		60
40	1964	Dheiva Thaai	Madhan	0
41	1964	Thozhilali	Velu	0
42	1964	Padagotti		80
43	1964	Thaayin Madiyil		52
44	1965	Enga Veettu Pillai	Gajendran	70
45	1965	Aayirathil Oruvan	Pirate Captain	47
46	1965	Aasai Mugam		0
47	1966	Naan Aanaiyittal		62
48	1966	Nadodi		80
49	1966	Mugaraasi		0
50	1966	Thaali Bhagyam	Namchivayam	0
51	1966	Thanippiravi	Sub-inspector Soundharam	35
52	1967	Arasa Kattalai		55
53	1967	Kaavalkaaran	Marudachalam	60
54	1968	Ragasiya Police 115		50
55	1968	Kudiyirundha Koyil		65
56	1968	Pudhiya Boomi		50
57	1968	Thillana Mohanambal	Maharaja of Madhanpur	71
58	1968	Enga Oor Raja		0
59	1968	Harichandra		0
60	1968	Lakshmi Kalyanam		0
61	1969	Nil Gavani Kadhali	Gang Leader	0
62	1969	Kaaval Dheivam		0
63	1969	Kanne Pappa	Inspector James	0
64	1969	Anjal Petti 520	Nagarajan	60
65	1969	Deiva Magan	Ananth	70
66	1969	Sivandha Mann	Diwan, the main antagonist	60
67	1970	En Annan	Nayagam	45
68	1971	Savale Samali	Rajavelu	55
69	1971	Adi Parasakthi		0
70	1972	Raman Thediya Seethai		0
71	1972	Idhaya Veenai		0
72	1973	Rajaraja Cholan	Bala Thevar	80
73	1973	Ulagam Sutrum Valiban		50
74	1973	Errakota Veerudu		40
75	1973	Rajapart Rangadurai	Somasundaram	65
76	1974	Netru Indru Naalai	Rathnam (the false)	0
77	1974	Urimai Kural	Doreswamy	55
78	1974	Sirithu Vazha Vendum		60
79	1975	Ninaithadhai Mudippavan	Mohan	40
80	1975	Naalai Namadhe		0
81	1976	Sathyam		0
82	1977	Navarathinam	Dharmaseelan	0
83	1977	Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga	Guruviah	65
84	1977	Meenava Nanban	Arun	0
85	1978	Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan	The Prince Raja Rajan	0
86	1978	Punniya Boomi		0
87	1978	En Kelvikku Enna Bathil		40
88	1979	Neeya?	Appu Kuttan	60
89	1979	Thirisoolam		70
90	1979	Aavesham	Shekaran	0
91	1979	Vetrikku Oruvan		0
92	1980	Ratha Paasam		0
93	1980	Guru	Head of anti-social group	60
94	1980	Sakthi	Vikraman	0
95	1980	Saranam Ayyappa		0
96	1981	Deiva Thirumanangal		0
97	1981	Kolilakkam		0
98	1981	Ram Lakshman		70
99	1981	Lorry Driver Rajakannu		0
100	1981	Garjanai		50
101	1981	Thadavara	Madhavan	0
102	1982	Oorukku Oru Pillai		0
103	1982	Parvaiyin Marupakkam		40
104	1982	Thooral Ninnu Pochu	Vathiyaar	0
105	1982	Sangili		0
106	1982	Thai Mookambhikai		0
107	1983	Thai Veedu		40
108	1983	Dowry Kalyanam	Rowther	0
109	1983	Sandhippu	Vedagiri	0
110	1983	Saatchi		30
111	1983	Miruthanga Chakravarthi		0
112	1984	Naan Mahaan Alla	GMK	47
113	1984	Vetri		0
114	1984	Tharaasu		0
115	1984	Vaazhkai		60
116	1984	Sarithira Nayagan		0
117	1984	Simma Soppanam		0
118	1984	Ezhuthata Sattaangal	Farooq	0
119	1984	Iru Medhaigal		0
120	1984	Vamsa Vilakku		0
121	1985	Needhiyin Nizhal		0
122	1985	Naan Sigappu Manithan	Senior Police Officer	59
123	1985	Nermai	Seetharam	0
124	1985	Eetti		0
125	1985	Raja Rishi	Sage Vashishta	0
126	1985	Puthiya Theerpu		0
127	1985	Puthiya Theerppu		35
128	1986	Nambinar Keduvadhillai		0
129	1986	Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu	Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father	62
130	1986	Dharma Devathai		0
131	1987	Velundu Vinaiyillai		50
132	1987	Enga Ooru Pattukaran	Kallampattiyan	0
133	1987	Jallikkattu		50
134	1987	Krishnan Vandhaan		0
135	1987	Uzhavan Magan		40
136	1988	Poonthotta Kavalkaran		0
137	1988	Thambi Thanga Kambi		0
138	1988	Nallavan		0
139	1988	Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran		0
140	1988	Manaivi Oru Mandhiri		0
141	1989	Thaai Naadu	Saleem Bhai	0
142	1989	Paattukku Oru Thalaivan		0
143	1989	Paandi Naattu Thangam	Thangapandian's father	0
144	1989	Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal	Thirumalai Naicker	50
145	1990	Pulan Visaranai		52
146	1990	Jagathalaprathapan	John Frederick	50
147	1990	Neengalum Herothan	M. N. Nambiar	0
148	1990	Periya Veettu Panakkaran		0
149	1990	Avasara Police 100		0
150	1991	Kumbakarai Thangaiah		0
151	1991	Enga Ooru Sippai		0
152	1991	Captain Prabhakaran	Special Task Force Officer	66
153	1991	Kaaval Nilayam	Andhavar	30
154	1991	Maanagara Kaaval	IG Jayaprakash	0
155	1992	Thanga Manasukkaran	Sadha Swamy	0
156	1992	Nadodi Paattukkaran		0
157	1992	Kaaviya Thalaivan	Damodaran	0
158	1992	Villu Pattukaran		60
159	1993	Ezhai Jaathi		30
160	1993	Yejaman	Vaanavarayan's grandfather	72
161	1993	Thanga Pappa	Adaikkalam	0
162	1993	Sakkarai Devan		0
163	1993	Gentleman	Ramesh's Father	72
164	1994	Paasamalargal		0
165	1994	Sethupathi I.P.S		80
166	1994	Periya Marudhu		30
167	1995	Karuppu Nila	Nandhini's father	0
168	1995	Kattumarakaran	Vaidehi's grandfather	0
169	1995	Raasaiyya		70
170	1995	Thotta Chinungi		0
171	1996	Poove Unakkaga	Sadhasivam	72
172	1997	Vallal	Dharmarasu	0
173	1997	Pasamulla Pandiyare	Nesamani	0
174	1997	Adimai Changili		50
175	1998	Moovendhar		58
176	1998	Poonthottam		0
177	1999	Endrendrum Kadhal	Sethupathi, Vijay's father	65
178	1999	Rojavanam		40
179	1999	Poo Parikka Varugirom	Narayanan	0
180	2001	Vinnukkum Mannukkum	Cameo	26
181	2001	Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala	Mumtaj's father	0
182	2001	Sharjah to Sharjah	Kappithan	53
183	2002	Varushamellam Vasantham		0
184	2002	Baba	Baba's Maternal Uncle	64
185	2003	Kadhal Sadugudu	Kausalya`s Grandfather	61
186	2003	Anbe Anbe		65
187	2003	Winner	Velayutham	51
188	2006	Sudesi		50
189	2007	Kuttrapathirikai		0
190		Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga		0

M. N. Nambiar

Film

Television