M. N. Nambiar
228 movies
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Mar 5, 1919
- Died
- Nov 19, 2008 (age 89)
- Place of birth
- Kannur, Kerala, India
- Also known as
- M N Nambiyar · Nambiar · M.N. Nambiar · M.N.Nambiyar
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.
Read the full biography
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.
Profiles IMDb
Known for
M. N. Nambiar: movies and TV shows
Acting (228)
- 2007
- 2006
- 2003 Winner
as Velayutham
- 2003
- 2003 Kadhal Sadugudu
as Kausalya`s Grandfather
- 2002 Baba
as Baba's Maternal Uncle
- 2002
- 2001 Sharjah to Sharjah
as Valiya Kappithan
- 2001
- 2001 Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
as Mumtaj's father
- 2001 Vinnukkum Mannukkum
as Cameo
- 1999 Poo Parikka Varugirom
as Narayanan
- 1999
- 1999 Endrendrum Kadhal
as Sethupathi, Vijay's father
- 1998
- 1998
- 1997
- 1997
- 1997 Pasamulla Pandiyare
as Nesamani
- 1997 Vallal
as Dharmarasu
- 1996 Poove Unakkaga
as Sadhasivam
- 1995
- 1995
- 1995
- 1995 Kattumarakaran
as Vaidehi's grandfather
- 1995 Karuppu Nila
as Nandhini's father
- 1994
- 1994
- 1994 Sethupathi I.P.S
as Ramarathnam
- 1993 Gentleman
as Ramesh's Father
- 1993 Sakkarai Devan
as Sarasu Grandfather
- 1993 Thanga Pappa
as Adaikkalam
- 1993 Yejaman
as Vaanavarayan's grandfather
- 1993 Ezhai Jaathi
as Iyer
- 1992
- 1992 Kaaviya Thalaivan
as Damodaran
- 1992 Thai Mozhi
as Church Father
- 1992
- 1992 Thanga Manasukkaran
as Sadha Swamy
- 1991 Maanagara Kaaval
as IG Jayaprakash
- 1991 Kaaval Nilayam
as Andhavar
- 1991
- 1991 Captain Prabhakaran
as Special Task Force Officer
- 1991
- 1990
- 1990
- 1990 Neengalum Herothan
as M. N. Nambiar
- 1990
- 1990 Jagathalaprathapan
as John Frederick
- 1990
- 1990 Pulan Visaranai
as DGP
- 1989 Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
as Thirumalai Naicker
- 1989 Paandi Naattu Thangam
as Thangapandian's father
- 1989
- 1989 Thaai Naadu
as Saleem Bhai
- 1988
- 1988
- 1988
- 1988
- 1988
- 1988
- 1987
- 1987
- 1987
- 1987 Enga Ooru Pattukaran
as Kallampattiyan
- 1987
- 1986
- 1986
- 1986
- 1986 Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
as Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
- 1986
- 1986
- 1985
- 1985 Raja Rishi
as Sage Vashishta
- 1985
- 1985
- 1985 Nermai
as Seetharam
- 1985
- 1985 Needhiyin Nizhal
as Krishna Prasad
- 1985 Naan Sigappu Manithan
as Senior Police Officer
- 1984
- 1984
- 1984 Ezhuthatha Sattangal
as Farooq
- 1984
- 1984
- 1984
- 1984
- 1984
- 1984
- 1984
- 1984 Naan Mahaan Alla
as GMK
- 1983
- 1983
- 1983 Sandhippu
as Vedagiri
- 1983 Dowry Kalyanam
as Rowther
- 1983
- 1982
- 1982
- 1982 Thooral Ninnu Pochu
as Kusthi Vaathiyaar
- 1982
- 1982
- 1981 Thadavara
as Madhavan
- 1981
- 1981
- 1981 Ram Lakshman
as Chandrasekar
- 1981
- 1981
- 1980
- 1980 Sakthi
as Vikraman
- 1980 Guru
as Head of anti-social group
- 1980
- 1979
- 1979 Aavesham
as Shekaran
- 1979
- 1979 Neeya?
as Appu Kuttan
- 1978
- 1978
- 1978
- 1978 Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
as The Prince Raja Rajan
- 1977 Meenava Nanban
as Arun
- 1977 Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
as Guruviah
- 1977
- 1977 Navarathinam
as Dharmaseelan
- 1976
- 1976
- 1975 Mannavan Vanthaanadi
as Punyakodi
- 1975
- 1975 Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
as Mohan
- 1974
- 1974 Urimai Kural
as Doreswamy
- 1974 Netru Indru Naalai
as Rathnam (the false)
- 1974 Thaai
as Kumar
- 1973 Rajapart Rangadurai
as Somasundaram
- 1973
- 1973 Ponnunjal
as Ponnan
- 1973
- 1973 Rajaraja Cholan
as Bala Thevar
- 1972
- 1972 Kannamma
as Gnanaprakasam
- 1972 Naan Yen Pirandhen
as Rajan
- 1972 Kurathi Magan
as Jambilingam
- 1972
- 1972 Dhikku Theriyadha Kaattil
as Kali Muthu
- 1971
- 1971 Savale Samali
as Rajavelu
- 1971 Kulama Gunama
as Nallakannu
- 1970 En Annan
as Nayagam
- 1969 Sivandha Mann
as Diwan
- 1969 Deiva Magan
as Ananth
- 1969 Anjal Petti 520
as Nagarajan
- 1969 Kanne Pappa
as Inspector James
- 1969
- 1969 Nil Gavani Kadhali
as Gang Leader
- 1969 Anbalippu
as Vasudevan
- 1968
- 1968
- 1968 Enga Oor Raja
as Rajankam
- 1968 Thillana Mohanambal
as Maharaja of Madhanpur
- 1968
- 1968
- 1968 Ragasiya Police 115
as Inspector Kumar / Krishnan
- 1967 Kaavalkaaran
as Marudachalam
- 1967
- 1966 Parakkum Paavai
as Rangasamy
- 1966 Thanippiravi
as Sub-inspector Soundharam
- 1966 Thaali Bhagyam
as Namchivayam
- 1966
- 1966 Chandhrodhayam
as Paranthaman
- 1966
- 1966
- 1965
- 1965 Aayirathil Oruvan
as Pirate Captain
- 1965 Enga Veettu Pillai
as Gajendran
- 1964
- 1964
- 1964 Thozhilali
as Velu
- 1964 Dheiva Thaai
as Madhan
- 1964
- 1964
- 1963
- 1963
- 1963 Nenjam Marappathillai
as Zamindar
- 1963
- 1963 Chitor Rani Padmini
as Malik Kafur
- 1962
- 1962 Rani Samyuktha
as Mohammad Ghori
- 1961 Then Nilavu
as Raj
- 1961 Nallavan Vazhvan
as Inspector Madhavan
- 1961 Pasamalar
as Rathnam
- 1961
- 1960
- 1960
- 1959 Bhaaga Pirivinai
as Mani
- 1959
- 1959
- 1958
- 1958
- 1958 Sarangadhara
as Mahadevan
- 1958
- 1958
+ 28 more credits