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

  • Nil Gavani Kadhali

    Nil Gavani Kadhali

  • Bhaaga Pirivinai

    Bhaaga Pirivinai

  • Ninaithadhai Mudippavan

    Ninaithadhai Mudippavan

  • Thanga Pappa

    Thanga Pappa

  • Ambikapathy

    Ambikapathy

  • Dharma Devathai

    Dharma Devathai

  • Thangamalai Ragasiyam

    Thangamalai Ragasiyam

  • Sakkarai Devan

    Sakkarai Devan

  • Naalai Namadhe

    Naalai Namadhe

  • Uthama Puthiran

    Uthama Puthiran

  • Thangapadumai

    Thangapadumai

  • Winner

    Winner

  • Sarithira Nayagan

    Sarithira Nayagan

  • Nambinar Keduvadhillai

    Nambinar Keduvadhillai

  • Kalai Arasi

    Kalai Arasi

  • Varushamellam Vasantham

    Varushamellam Vasantham

  • Annai Illam

    Annai Illam

  • Kudumba Thalaivan

    Kudumba Thalaivan

  • Periya Marudhu

    Periya Marudhu

  • Thaai Naadu

    Thaai Naadu

  • Gentleman

    Gentleman

  • Savale Samali

    Savale Samali

  • Pasamalar

    Pasamalar

  • Puthiya Theerppu

    Puthiya Theerppu

  • Vanangaamudi

    Vanangaamudi

  • Karuppu Nila

    Karuppu Nila

  • Krishnan Vandhaan

    Krishnan Vandhaan

  • Baba

    Baba

  • Eetti

    Eetti

  • Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal

    Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal

  • Vetri

    Vetri

  • Raman Thediya Seethai

    Raman Thediya Seethai

  • Pulan Visaranai

    Pulan Visaranai

  • Moovendhar

    Moovendhar

  • Raja Rishi

    Raja Rishi

  • Arasa Kattalai

    Arasa Kattalai

  • Maanagara Kaaval

    Maanagara Kaaval

  • Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran

    Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran

  • Urimai Kural

    Urimai Kural

  • Neeya?

    Neeya?

  • Thanga Manasukkaran

    Thanga Manasukkaran

  • Nallavan

    Nallavan

  • Enga Ooru Pattukaran

    Enga Ooru Pattukaran

  • Kaavalkaaran

    Kaavalkaaran

  • Sivandha Mann

    Sivandha Mann

  • Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

    Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

  • Arasilangumari

    Arasilangumari

  • Thambi Thanga Kambi

    Thambi Thanga Kambi

  • Sathyam

    Sathyam

  • Paandi Naattu Thangam

    Paandi Naattu Thangam

  • Tharaasu

    Tharaasu

  • Naan Sigappu Manithan

    Naan Sigappu Manithan

  • Ezhuthata Sattaangal

    Ezhuthata Sattaangal

  • The Jungle

    The Jungle

  • Velundu Vinaiyillai

    Velundu Vinaiyillai

  • Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala

    Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala

  • Parvaiyin Marupakkam

    Parvaiyin Marupakkam

  • Manaivi Oru Mandhiri

    Manaivi Oru Mandhiri

  • Needhiyin Nizhal

    Needhiyin Nizhal

  • Vamsa Vilakku

    Vamsa Vilakku

  • Avasara Police 100

    Avasara Police 100

  • Garjanai

    Garjanai

  • Endrendrum Kadhal

    Endrendrum Kadhal

  • Sandhippu

    Sandhippu

  • Deiva Thirumanangal

    Deiva Thirumanangal

  • Naan Mahaan Alla

    Naan Mahaan Alla

  • Sakthi

    Sakthi

  • Raasaiyya

    Raasaiyya

  • Poo Parikka Varugirom

    Poo Parikka Varugirom

  • Adimai Changili

    Adimai Changili

  • Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu

    Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu

  • Navarathinam

    Navarathinam

  • Uzhavan Magan

    Uzhavan Magan

  • Kuttrapathirikai

    Kuttrapathirikai

  • Thadavara

    Thadavara

  • Vetrikku Oruvan

    Vetrikku Oruvan

  • Nadodi Paattukkaran

    Nadodi Paattukkaran

  • Kadhal Sadugudu

    Kadhal Sadugudu

  • Nadodi

    Nadodi

  • Aasai Mugam

    Aasai Mugam

  • Thaayin Madiyil

    Thaayin Madiyil

  • Thai Veedu

    Thai Veedu

  • Puthiya Theerpu

    Puthiya Theerpu

  • Thirudadhe

    Thirudadhe

  • Kattumarakaran

    Kattumarakaran

  • Marmayogi

    Marmayogi

  • Thai Mookambhikai

    Thai Mookambhikai

  • Poonthotta Kavalkaran

    Poonthotta Kavalkaran

  • Nadodi Mannan

    Nadodi Mannan

  • Adi Parasakthi

    Adi Parasakthi

  • Kaaval Nilayam

    Kaaval Nilayam

  • En Kadamai

    En Kadamai

  • Kolilakkam

    Kolilakkam

  • Poove Unakkaga

    Poove Unakkaga

  • Oorukku Oru Pillai

    Oorukku Oru Pillai

  • Meenava Nanban

    Meenava Nanban

  • Naan Aanaiyittal

    Naan Aanaiyittal

  • Punniya Boomi

    Punniya Boomi

  • Sarvadhikari

    Sarvadhikari

  • Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga

    Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga

  • Thirisoolam

    Thirisoolam

  • Sethupathi I.P.S

    Sethupathi I.P.S

  • Neengalum Herothan

    Neengalum Herothan

  • Ram Lakshman

    Ram Lakshman

  • Thigambara Samiar

    Thigambara Samiar

  • Manthiri Kumari

    Manthiri Kumari

  • En Annan

    En Annan

  • Mohini

    Mohini

  • Rani Samyuktha

    Rani Samyuktha

  • Vinnukkum Mannukkum

    Vinnukkum Mannukkum

  • Rajarajan

    Rajarajan

  • Andhaman Kaidhi

    Andhaman Kaidhi

  • Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi

    Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi

  • Enga Oor Raja

    Enga Oor Raja

  • Ezhai Jaathi

    Ezhai Jaathi

  • Sharjah to Sharjah

    Sharjah to Sharjah

  • Pasamulla Pandiyare

    Pasamulla Pandiyare

  • Thotta Chinungi

    Thotta Chinungi

  • Periya Veettu Panakkaran

    Periya Veettu Panakkaran

  • Amara Deepam

    Amara Deepam

  • Lorry Driver Rajakannu

    Lorry Driver Rajakannu

  • Pelli Naati Pramanalu

    Pelli Naati Pramanalu

  • Ratha Paasam

    Ratha Paasam

  • Jallikkattu

    Jallikkattu

  • Thaali Bhagyam

    Thaali Bhagyam

  • Kumbakarai Thangaiah

    Kumbakarai Thangaiah

  • Thooral Ninnu Pochu

    Thooral Ninnu Pochu

  • Enga Veettu Pillai

    Enga Veettu Pillai

  • Captain Prabhakaran

    Captain Prabhakaran

  • Thillana Mohanambal

    Thillana Mohanambal

  • Thozhilali

    Thozhilali

  • Rajapart Rangadurai

    Rajapart Rangadurai

  • Kalyana Parisu

    Kalyana Parisu

  • Simma Soppanam

    Simma Soppanam

  • Aayirathil Oruvan

    Aayirathil Oruvan

  • Jagathalaprathapan

    Jagathalaprathapan

  • Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam

    Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam

  • Yejaman

    Yejaman

  • Anbe Anbe

    Anbe Anbe

  • Kudiyirundha Koyil

    Kudiyirundha Koyil

  • Sangili

    Sangili

  • Guru

    Guru

  • Sudesi

    Sudesi

  • Vaazhkai

    Vaazhkai

  • Paasamalargal

    Paasamalargal

  • Idhaya Veenai

    Idhaya Veenai

  • Nermai

    Nermai

  • Saatchi

    Saatchi

  • Rajaraja Cholan

    Rajaraja Cholan

  • Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga

    Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga

  • Kaaval Dheivam

    Kaaval Dheivam

  • Villu Pattukaran

    Villu Pattukaran

  • Dheiva Thaai

    Dheiva Thaai

  • Ellorum Innattu Mannar

    Ellorum Innattu Mannar

  • Poonthottam

    Poonthottam

  • Kaaviya Thalaivan

    Kaaviya Thalaivan

  • Mugaraasi

    Mugaraasi

  • Aavesham

    Aavesham

  • Bhuloka Rambhai

    Bhuloka Rambhai

  • Padagotti

    Padagotti

  • Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan

    Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan

  • Annaiyin Aanai

    Annaiyin Aanai

  • Enga Ooru Sippai

    Enga Ooru Sippai

  • Vallal

    Vallal

  • Rojavanam

    Rojavanam

  • En Kelvikku Enna Bathil

    En Kelvikku Enna Bathil

  • Ragasiya Police 115

    Ragasiya Police 115

  • Iru Medhaigal

    Iru Medhaigal

  • Naam

    Naam

  • Miruthanga Chakravarthi

    Miruthanga Chakravarthi

  • Paattukku Oru Thalaivan

    Paattukku Oru Thalaivan

  • Pudhiya Boomi

    Pudhiya Boomi

  • Then Nilavu

    Then Nilavu

  • Nenjam Marappathillai

    Nenjam Marappathillai

  • Deiva Magan

    Deiva Magan

  • Illarame Nallaram

    Illarame Nallaram

  • Harichandra

    Harichandra

  • Lakshmi Kalyanam

    Lakshmi Kalyanam

  • Vettaikaaran

    Vettaikaaran

  • Makkalai Petra Magarasi

    Makkalai Petra Magarasi

  • Saranam Ayyappa

    Saranam Ayyappa

  • Dowry Kalyanam

    Dowry Kalyanam

  • Sirithu Vazha Vendum

    Sirithu Vazha Vendum

  • Errakota Veerudu

    Errakota Veerudu

  • Thanippiravi

    Thanippiravi

  • Netru Indru Naalai

    Netru Indru Naalai

  • Kanne Pappa

    Kanne Pappa

  • Karpukarasi

    Karpukarasi

  • Raja Kumari

    Raja Kumari

  • Anjal Petti 520

    Anjal Petti 520