Acting
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.
Filmography
Kuttrapathirikai
Film · 2007
Sudesi
Film · 2006
Winner
Film · 2003
Kadhal Sadugudu
Film · 2003
Anbe Anbe
Film · 2003
Varushamellam Vasantham
Film · 2002
Baba
Film · 2002
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
Film · 2001
Vinnukkum Mannukkum
Film · 2001
Sharjah to Sharjah
Film · 2001
Ninaikkatha Naalillai
Film · 2001
Endrendrum Kadhal
Film · 1999
Poo Parikka Varugirom
Film · 1999
Rojavanam
Film · 1999
Moovendhar
Film · 1998
Poonthottam
Film · 1998
Pasamulla Pandiyare
Film · 1997
Adimai Changili
Film · 1997
Vallal
Film · 1997
Thambi Durai
Film · 1997
Poove Unakkaga
Film · 1996
Kattumarakaran
Film · 1995
Thotta Chinungi
Film · 1995
Karuppu Nila
Film · 1995
Raasaiyya
Film · 1995
Raja Muthirai
Film · 1995
Sethupathi I.P.S
Film · 1994
Paasamalargal
Film · 1994
Periya Marudhu
Film · 1994
Gentleman
Film · 1993
Yejaman
Film · 1993
Ezhai Jaathi
Film · 1993
Sakkarai Devan
Film · 1993
Thanga Pappa
Film · 1993
Nadodi Paattukkaran
Film · 1992
Villu Pattukaran
Film · 1992
Thanga Manasukkaran
Film · 1992
Kaaviya Thalaivan
Film · 1992
Thai Mozhi
Film · 1992
Enga Ooru Sippai
Film · 1991
Kaaval Nilayam
Film · 1991
Maanagara Kaaval
Film · 1991
Kumbakarai Thangaiah
Film · 1991
Captain Prabhakaran
Film · 1991
Jagathalaprathapan
Film · 1990
Periya Veettu Panakkaran
Film · 1990
Pulan Visaranai
Film · 1990
Avasara Police 100
Film · 1990
Neengalum Herothan
Film · 1990
Manasukkeththa Mappillai
Film · 1990
Kalyana Rasi
Film · 1990
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan
Film · 1989
Paandi Naattu Thangam
Film · 1989
Thaai Naadu
Film · 1989
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
Film · 1989
Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran
Film · 1988
Nallavan
Film · 1988
Thambi Thanga Kambi
Film · 1988
Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran
Film · 1988
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
Film · 1988
Sakkarai Panthal
Film · 1988
Jallikkattu
Film · 1987
Krishnan Vandhaan
Film · 1987
Velundu Vinaiyillai
Film · 1987
Uzhavan Magan
Film · 1987
Enga Ooru Pattukaran
Film · 1987
Dharma Devathai
Film · 1986
Nambinar Keduvadhillai
Film · 1986
Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
Film · 1986
Iravu Pookkal
Film · 1986
Karimedu Karuvayan
Film · 1986
Aayiram Kannudayaal
Film · 1986
Needhiyin Nizhal
Film · 1985
Naan Sigappu Manithan
Film · 1985
Raja Rishi
Film · 1985
Nermai
Film · 1985
Puthiya Theerpu
Film · 1985
Eetti
Film · 1985
Elan Kandru
Film · 1985
Thanga Mama
Film · 1985
Naan Mahaan Alla
Film · 1984
Vetri
Film · 1984
Iru Medhaigal
Film · 1984
Vamsa Vilakku
Film · 1984
Sarithira Nayagan
Film · 1984
Simma Soppanam
Film · 1984
Ezhuthatha Sattangal
Film · 1984
Vaazhkai
Film · 1984
Tharaasu
Film · 1984
Nyayam
Film · 1984
Pozhuthu Vidinchachu
Film · 1984
Saatchi
Film · 1983
Thai Veedu
Film · 1983
Miruthanga Chakravarthi
Film · 1983
Sandhippu
Film · 1983
Dowry Kalyanam
Film · 1983
Parvaiyin Marupakkam
Film · 1982
Thaai Mookaambikai
Film · 1982
Sangili
Film · 1982
Oorukku Oru Pillai
Film · 1982
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
Film · 1982
Ram Lakshman
Film · 1981
Deiva Thirumanangal
Film · 1981
Garjanai
Film · 1981
Lorry Driver Rajakannu
Film · 1981
Kolilakkam
Film · 1981
Thadavara
Film · 1981
Ratha Paasam
Film · 1980
Sakthi
Film · 1980
Guru
Film · 1980
Saranam Ayyappa
Film · 1980
Aavesham
Film · 1979
Thirisoolam
Film · 1979
Vetrikku Oruvan
Film · 1979
Neeya?
Film · 1979
Punniya Boomi
Film · 1978
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
Film · 1978
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
Film · 1978
Paavathin Sambalam
Film · 1978
Meenava Nanban
Film · 1977
Navarathinam
Film · 1977
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
Film · 1977
Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga
Film · 1977
Sathyam
Film · 1976
Anna Nee En Deivam
Film · 1976
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Film · 1975
Naalai Namadhe
Film · 1975
Mannavan Vanthaanadi
Film · 1975
Urimai Kural
Film · 1974
Sirithu Vazha Vendum
Film · 1974
Netru Indru Naalai
Film · 1974
Thaai
Film · 1974
Rajapart Rangadurai
Film · 1973
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
Film · 1973
Errakota Veerudu
Film · 1973
Rajaraja Cholan
Film · 1973
Ponnunjal
Film · 1973
Idhaya Veenai
Film · 1972
Raman Thediya Seethai
Film · 1972
Kannamma
Film · 1972
Naan Yen Pirandhen
Film · 1972
Kurathi Magan
Film · 1972
Dhikku Theriyadha Kaattil
Film · 1972
Savale Samali
Film · 1971
Adi Parasakthi
Film · 1971
Kulama Gunama
Film · 1971
En Annan
Film · 1970
Kanne Pappa
Film · 1969
Sivandha Mann
Film · 1969
Kaaval Dheivam
Film · 1969
Deiva Magan
Film · 1969
Nil Gavani Kadhali
Film · 1969
Anjal Petti 520
Film · 1969
Anbalippu
Film · 1969
Enga Oor Raja
Film · 1968
Ragasiya Police 115
Film · 1968
Pudhiya Boomi
Film · 1968
Kudiyirundha Koyil
Film · 1968
Harichandra
Film · 1968
Lakshmi Kalyanam
Film · 1968
Thillana Mohanambal
Film · 1968
Arasa Kattalai
Film · 1967
Kaavalkaaran
Film · 1967
Thanippiravi
Film · 1966
Nadodi
Film · 1966
Naan Aanaiyittal
Film · 1966
Mugaraasi
Film · 1966
Thaali Bhagyam
Film · 1966
Chandhrodhayam
Film · 1966
Parakkum Paavai
Film · 1966
Aayirathil Oruvan
Film · 1965
Aasai Mugam
Film · 1965
Enga Veettu Pillai
Film · 1965
Vettaikaaran
Film · 1964
Padagotti
Film · 1964
Thaayin Madiyil
Film · 1964
En Kadamai
Film · 1964
Dheiva Thaai
Film · 1964
Thozhilali
Film · 1964
Annai Illam
Film · 1963
Kalai Arasi
Film · 1963
Nenjam Marappathillai
Film · 1963
Chitor Rani Padmini
Film · 1963
Ezhai Pangalan
Film · 1963
Kudumba Thalaivan
Film · 1962
Rani Samyuktha
Film · 1962
Pasamalar
Film · 1961
Then Nilavu
Film · 1961
Thirudadhe
Film · 1961
Nallavan Vazhvan
Film · 1961
Ellorum Innattu Mannar
Film · 1960
Arasilangumari
Film · 1960
Kalyana Parisu
Film · 1959
Bhaaga Pirivinai
Film · 1959
Thangapadumai
Film · 1959
Uthama Puthiran
Film · 1958
Illarame Nallaram
Film · 1958
Bhooloka Rambai
Film · 1958
Nadodi Mannan
Film · 1958
Annaiyin Aanai
Film · 1958
Pellinaati Pramanalu
Film · 1958
Sarangadhara
Film · 1958
Thangamalai Ragasiyam
Film · 1957
Makkalai Petra Magarasi
Film · 1957
Ambikapathy
Film · 1957
Vanangaamudi
Film · 1957
Karpukarasi
Film · 1957
Rajarajan
Film · 1957
Amara Deepam
Film · 1956
Naan Petra Selvam
Film · 1956
Rambayin Kadhal
Film · 1956
Tenali Raman
Film · 1956
Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam
Film · 1955
Doctor Savithri
Film · 1955
Kaveri
Film · 1955
Naam
Film · 1953
The Jungle
Film · 1952
Andhaman Kaidhi
Film · 1952
Marmayogi
Film · 1951
Sarvadhikari
Film · 1951
Devaki
Film · 1951
Manthiri Kumari
Film · 1950
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
Film · 1950
Thigambara Samiar
Film · 1950
Velaikari
Film · 1949
Mohini
Film · 1948
Abhimanyu
Film · 1948
Rajakumari
Film · 1947