M. N. Nambiar

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

190

Gender

Male

Birthday

1919-03-05

Day of death

2008-11-19 (89 years old)

Place of Birth

Kannur, Kerala, India

M. N. Nambiar

Biography

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

  • The Jungle

    The Jungle

  • Endrendrum Kadhal

    Endrendrum Kadhal

  • Garjanai

    Garjanai

  • Thai Veedu

    Thai Veedu

  • Thai Mookambhikai

    Thai Mookambhikai

  • Puthiya Theerppu

    Puthiya Theerppu

  • Parvaiyin Marupakkam

    Parvaiyin Marupakkam

  • Nadodi Paattukkaran

    Nadodi Paattukkaran

  • Thadavara

    Thadavara

  • Uzhavan Magan

    Uzhavan Magan

  • Vetrikku Oruvan

    Vetrikku Oruvan

  • Kolilakkam

    Kolilakkam

  • Kaaval Nilayam

    Kaaval Nilayam

  • Poove Unakkaga

    Poove Unakkaga

  • Neengalum Herothan

    Neengalum Herothan

  • Pasamulla Pandiyare

    Pasamulla Pandiyare

  • Meenava Nanban

    Meenava Nanban

  • Kumbakarai Thangaiah

    Kumbakarai Thangaiah

  • Baba

    Baba

  • Adi Parasakthi

    Adi Parasakthi

  • Winner

    Winner

  • Raja Rishi

    Raja Rishi

  • Naan Sigappu Manithan

    Naan Sigappu Manithan

  • Varushamellam Vasantham

    Varushamellam Vasantham

  • Ezhai Jaathi

    Ezhai Jaathi

  • Thirisoolam

    Thirisoolam

  • Needhiyin Nizhal

    Needhiyin Nizhal

  • Maanagara Kaaval

    Maanagara Kaaval

  • Periya Marudhu

    Periya Marudhu

  • Naalai Namadhe

    Naalai Namadhe

  • Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala

    Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala

  • Nallavan

    Nallavan

  • Gentleman

    Gentleman

  • Vamsa Vilakku

    Vamsa Vilakku

  • Tharaasu

    Tharaasu

  • Kuttrapathirikai

    Kuttrapathirikai

  • Naan Mahaan Alla

    Naan Mahaan Alla

  • Moovendhar

    Moovendhar

  • Velundu Vinaiyillai

    Velundu Vinaiyillai

  • Enga Ooru Pattukaran

    Enga Ooru Pattukaran

  • Dharma Devathai

    Dharma Devathai

  • Raasaiyya

    Raasaiyya

  • Avasara Police 100

    Avasara Police 100

  • Pasamalar

    Pasamalar

  • Ezhuthata Sattaangal

    Ezhuthata Sattaangal

  • Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

    Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

  • Sethupathi I.P.S

    Sethupathi I.P.S

  • Pulan Visaranai

    Pulan Visaranai

  • Thambi Thanga Kambi

    Thambi Thanga Kambi

  • Nambinar Keduvadhillai

    Nambinar Keduvadhillai

  • Sarithira Nayagan

    Sarithira Nayagan

  • Paandi Naattu Thangam

    Paandi Naattu Thangam

  • Neeya?

    Neeya?

  • Ram Lakshman

    Ram Lakshman

  • Sandhippu

    Sandhippu

  • Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu

    Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu

  • Manaivi Oru Mandhiri

    Manaivi Oru Mandhiri

  • Thanga Pappa

    Thanga Pappa

  • Sakkarai Devan

    Sakkarai Devan

  • Krishnan Vandhaan

    Krishnan Vandhaan

  • Enga Oor Raja

    Enga Oor Raja

  • Kadhal Sadugudu

    Kadhal Sadugudu

  • Kattumarakaran

    Kattumarakaran

  • Eetti

    Eetti

  • Uthama Puthiran

    Uthama Puthiran

  • Annai Illam

    Annai Illam

  • Bhaaga Pirivinai

    Bhaaga Pirivinai

  • Urimai Kural

    Urimai Kural

  • Sathyam

    Sathyam

  • Deiva Thirumanangal

    Deiva Thirumanangal

  • Oorukku Oru Pillai

    Oorukku Oru Pillai

  • Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal

    Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal

  • Ambikapathy

    Ambikapathy

  • Kudumba Thalaivan

    Kudumba Thalaivan

  • Kaavalkaaran

    Kaavalkaaran

  • Lorry Driver Rajakannu

    Lorry Driver Rajakannu

  • Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran

    Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran

  • Thangamalai Ragasiyam

    Thangamalai Ragasiyam

  • Nil Gavani Kadhali

    Nil Gavani Kadhali

  • Thanga Manasukkaran

    Thanga Manasukkaran

  • Vetri

    Vetri

  • Arasa Kattalai

    Arasa Kattalai

  • Savale Samali

    Savale Samali

  • Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga

    Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga

  • Vanangaamudi

    Vanangaamudi

  • Ratha Paasam

    Ratha Paasam

  • Sakthi

    Sakthi

  • Kalai Arasi

    Kalai Arasi

  • Thangapadumai

    Thangapadumai

  • Naan Aanaiyittal

    Naan Aanaiyittal

  • Nadodi Mannan

    Nadodi Mannan

  • Thirudadhe

    Thirudadhe

  • Nadodi

    Nadodi

  • En Kadamai

    En Kadamai

  • Aasai Mugam

    Aasai Mugam

  • Thaayin Madiyil

    Thaayin Madiyil

  • Marmayogi

    Marmayogi

  • Sarvadhikari

    Sarvadhikari

  • Arasilangumari

    Arasilangumari

  • Raman Thediya Seethai

    Raman Thediya Seethai

  • Jagathalaprathapan

    Jagathalaprathapan

  • Aayirathil Oruvan

    Aayirathil Oruvan

  • Periya Veettu Panakkaran

    Periya Veettu Panakkaran

  • Pelli Naati Pramanalu

    Pelli Naati Pramanalu

  • Pudhiya Boomi

    Pudhiya Boomi

  • Thooral Ninnu Pochu

    Thooral Ninnu Pochu

  • Enga Ooru Sippai

    Enga Ooru Sippai

  • Ragasiya Police 115

    Ragasiya Police 115

  • Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan

    Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan

  • Manthiri Kumari

    Manthiri Kumari

  • Vettaikaaran

    Vettaikaaran

  • Mohini

    Mohini

  • Sivandha Mann

    Sivandha Mann

  • Thillana Mohanambal

    Thillana Mohanambal

  • Vinnukkum Mannukkum

    Vinnukkum Mannukkum

  • Errakota Veerudu

    Errakota Veerudu

  • Thaai Naadu

    Thaai Naadu

  • Andhaman Kaidhi

    Andhaman Kaidhi

  • Aavesham

    Aavesham

  • En Kelvikku Enna Bathil

    En Kelvikku Enna Bathil

  • Rani Samyuktha

    Rani Samyuktha

  • Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi

    Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi

  • Rajarajan

    Rajarajan

  • Thigambara Samiar

    Thigambara Samiar

  • Sirithu Vazha Vendum

    Sirithu Vazha Vendum

  • Captain Prabhakaran

    Captain Prabhakaran

  • Yejaman

    Yejaman

  • Raja Kumari

    Raja Kumari

  • Mugaraasi

    Mugaraasi

  • Anbe Anbe

    Anbe Anbe

  • Enga Veettu Pillai

    Enga Veettu Pillai

  • Naam

    Naam

  • Rajapart Rangadurai

    Rajapart Rangadurai

  • Harichandra

    Harichandra

  • Thotta Chinungi

    Thotta Chinungi

  • Poonthottam

    Poonthottam

  • Villu Pattukaran

    Villu Pattukaran

  • Kalyana Parisu

    Kalyana Parisu

  • Sudesi

    Sudesi

  • En Annan

    En Annan

  • Then Nilavu

    Then Nilavu

  • Vallal

    Vallal

  • Poonthotta Kavalkaran

    Poonthotta Kavalkaran

  • Simma Soppanam

    Simma Soppanam

  • Sangili

    Sangili

  • Rojavanam

    Rojavanam

  • Padagotti

    Padagotti

  • Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam

    Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam

  • Guru

    Guru

  • Saranam Ayyappa

    Saranam Ayyappa

  • Kudiyirundha Koyil

    Kudiyirundha Koyil

  • Paattukku Oru Thalaivan

    Paattukku Oru Thalaivan

  • Navarathinam

    Navarathinam

  • Paasamalargal

    Paasamalargal

  • Sharjah to Sharjah

    Sharjah to Sharjah

  • Karuppu Nila

    Karuppu Nila

  • Rajaraja Cholan

    Rajaraja Cholan

  • Puthiya Theerpu

    Puthiya Theerpu

  • Ninaithadhai Mudippavan

    Ninaithadhai Mudippavan

  • Vaazhkai

    Vaazhkai

  • Idhaya Veenai

    Idhaya Veenai

  • Miruthanga Chakravarthi

    Miruthanga Chakravarthi

  • Deiva Magan

    Deiva Magan

  • Amara Deepam

    Amara Deepam

  • Jallikkattu

    Jallikkattu

  • Dheiva Thaai

    Dheiva Thaai

  • Saatchi

    Saatchi

  • Kaaviya Thalaivan

    Kaaviya Thalaivan

  • Lakshmi Kalyanam

    Lakshmi Kalyanam

  • Nermai

    Nermai

  • Adimai Changili

    Adimai Changili

  • Nenjam Marappathillai

    Nenjam Marappathillai

  • Thanippiravi

    Thanippiravi

  • Thozhilali

    Thozhilali

  • Anjal Petti 520

    Anjal Petti 520

  • Netru Indru Naalai

    Netru Indru Naalai

  • Kaaval Dheivam

    Kaaval Dheivam

  • Kanne Pappa

    Kanne Pappa

  • Poo Parikka Varugirom

    Poo Parikka Varugirom

  • Dowry Kalyanam

    Dowry Kalyanam

  • Punniya Boomi

    Punniya Boomi

  • Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga

    Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga

  • Illarame Nallaram

    Illarame Nallaram

  • Iru Medhaigal

    Iru Medhaigal

  • Annaiyin Aanai

    Annaiyin Aanai

  • Makkalai Petra Magarasi

    Makkalai Petra Magarasi

  • Karpukarasi

    Karpukarasi

  • Thaali Bhagyam

    Thaali Bhagyam

  • Ellorum Innattu Mannar

    Ellorum Innattu Mannar

  • Bhuloka Rambhai

    Bhuloka Rambhai