M. N. Nambiar
Acting
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
Acting208
movieWinner
2003
Velayutham
movieKadhal Sadugudu
2003
Kausalya`s Grandfather
movieBaba
2002
Baba's Maternal Uncle
movieSharjah to Sharjah
2001
Valiya Kappithan
movieSonnal Thaan Kaadhala
2001
Mumtaj's father
moviePoo Parikka Varugirom
1999
Narayanan
movieEndrendrum Kadhal
1999
Sethupathi, Vijay's father
moviePasamulla Pandiyare
1997
Nesamani
Vallal
1997
Dharmarasu
moviePoove Unakkaga
1996
Sadhasivam
Kattumarakaran
1995
Vaidehi's grandfather
movieKaruppu Nila
1995
Nandhini's father
movieSethupathi I.P.S
1994
Ramarathnam
movieGentleman
1993
Ramesh's Father
movieSakkarai Devan
1993
Sarasu Grandfather
Thanga Pappa
1993
Adaikkalam
movieYejaman
1993
Vaanavarayan's grandfather
movieThanga Manasukkaran
1992
Sadha Swamy
movieMaanagara Kaaval
1991
IG Jayaprakash
movieCaptain Prabhakaran
1991
Special Task Force Officer
movieNeengalum Herothan
1990
M. N. Nambiar
movieJagathalaprathapan
1990
John Frederick
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
1989
Thirumalai Naicker
Paandi Naattu Thangam
1989
Thangapandian's father
movieThaai Naadu
1989
Saleem Bhai
movieEnga Ooru Pattukaran
1987
Kallampattiyan
movieMella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
1986
Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
movieRaja Rishi
1985
Sage Vashishta
movieNermai
1985
Seetharam
Needhiyin Nizhal
1985
Krishna Prasad
movieNaan Sigappu Manithan
1985
Senior Police Officer
movieSandhippu
1983
Vedagiri
movieDowry Kalyanam
1983
Rowther
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
1982
Kusthi Vaathiyaar
Thadavara
1981
Madhavan
movieRam Lakshman
1981
Chandrasekar
movieSakthi
1980
Vikraman
movieGuru
1980
Head of anti-social group
movieAavesham
1979
Shekaran
movieNeeya?
1979
Appu Kuttan
movieMadhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
1978
The Prince Raja Rajan
Navarathinam
1977
Dharmaseelan
movieUrimai Kural
1974
Doreswamy
movieNetru Indru Naalai
1974
Rathnam (the false)
movieRajapart Rangadurai
1973
Somasundaram
movieRajaraja Cholan
1973
Bala Thevar
Kannamma
1972
Gnanaprakasam
movieSavale Samali
1971
Rajavelu
movieEn Annan
1970
Nayagam
movieDeiva Magan
1969
Ananth
movieAnjal Petti 520
1969
Nagarajan
Kanne Pappa
1969
Inspector James
movieNil Gavani Kadhali
1969
Gang Leader
Anbalippu
1969
Vasudevan
movieThillana Mohanambal
1968
Maharaja of Madhanpur
movieKaavalkaaran
1967
Marudachalam
Thanippiravi
1966
Sub-inspector Soundharam
Thaali Bhagyam
1966
Namchivayam
Chandhrodhayam
1966
Paranthaman
movieAayirathil Oruvan
1965
Pirate Captain
movieEnga Veettu Pillai
1965
Gajendran
movieNenjam Marappathillai
1963
Zamindar
movieRani Samyuktha
1962
Mohammad Ghori
movieNallavan Vazhvan
1961
Inspector Madhavan
moviePasamalar
1961
Rathnam
Sarangadhara
1958
Mahadevan
Uthama Puthiran
1958
Naganathan
Ambikapathy
1957
Ottakoothar
movieRambayin Kadhal
1956
Narada
movieTenali Raman
1956
Rajaguru
Doctor Savithri
1955
Krishnamoorthi
movieThe Jungle
1952
Mahaji
Sarvadhikari
1951
Mahavarman
movieThigambara Samiar
1950
Chokkalingam Pillai
movieManthiri Kumari
1950
Royal Priest
movieVelaikari
1949
Moorthi / Yogi Hariharadas
movieAbhimanyu
1948
Lakkanan
