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.
Known for
Rojavanam
Poove Unakkaga
Sadhasivam
Baba
Baba's Maternal Uncle
Gentleman
Ramesh's Father
Yejaman
Vaanavarayan's grandfather
Kolilakkam
Harichandra
Winner
Velayutham
Periya Marudhu
Kadhal Sadugudu
Kausalya`s Grandfather
Varushamellam Vasantham
Thai Veedu
Thotta Chinungi
Endrendrum Kadhal
Sethupathi, Vijay's father
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Mohan
En Kadamai
Sethupathi I.P.S
Naan Mahaan Alla
GMK
Captain Prabhakaran
Special Task Force Officer
Uthama Puthiran
Naganathan
Thillana Mohanambal
Maharaja of Madhanpur
Kumbakarai Thangaiah
Thangamalai Ragasiyam
Garjanai
Guru
Head of anti-social group
Kudiyirundha Koyil
En Annan
Nayagam
Vinnukkum Mannukkum
Cameo
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
Thaai Naadu
Saleem Bhai
Naan Sigappu Manithan
Senior Police Officer
Saranam Ayyappa
Ram Lakshman
Sakthi
Vikraman
Sivandha Mann
Diwan, the main antagonist
Vallal
Dharmarasu
Nermai
Seetharam
Enga Veettu Pillai
Gajendran
Kuttrapathirikai
The Jungle
Mahaji
Thai Mookambhikai
Ezhai Jaathi
Aayirathil Oruvan
Pirate Captain
Jagathalaprathapan
John Frederick
Kattumarakaran
Vaidehi's grandfather
Sudesi
Paandi Naattu Thangam
Thangapandian's father
Poonthotta Kavalkaran
Deiva Magan
Ananth
Sathyam
Thozhilali
Velu
Deiva Thirumanangal
Raja Rishi
Sage Vashishta
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
Mumtaj's father
Jallikkattu
Nenjam Marappathillai
Zamindar
Adi Parasakthi
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
The Prince Raja Rajan
Vetrikku Oruvan
Villu Pattukaran
Dheiva Thaai
Madhan
Paasamalargal
Dowry Kalyanam
Rowther
Sharjah to Sharjah
Kappithan
Vettaikaaran
Netru Indru Naalai
Rathnam (the false)
Ragasiya Police 115
Anbe Anbe
Rajaraja Cholan
Bala Thevar
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
Ratha Paasam
Kanne Pappa
Inspector James
Kalyana Parisu
Kalai Arasi
Pulan Visaranai
Anjal Petti 520
Nagarajan
Thanga Manasukkaran
Sadha Swamy
Krishnan Vandhaan
Ezhuthata Sattaangal
Farooq
Periya Veettu Panakkaran
Thirisoolam
Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran
Sandhippu
Vedagiri
Sakkarai Devan
Marmayogi
Nallavan
Dharma Devathai
Naalai Namadhe
Uzhavan Magan
Vaazhkai
Amara Deepam
Poonthottam
Urimai Kural
Doreswamy
Karuppu Nila
Nandhini's father
Kudumba Thalaivan
Pasamulla Pandiyare
Nesamani
Pasamalar
Rathnam
Saatchi
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
Thirumalai Naicker
Iru Medhaigal
Nadodi Mannan
Sarithira Nayagan
Manthiri Kumari
Royal Priest
Rajapart Rangadurai
Somasundaram
Tharaasu
Kaaviya Thalaivan
Damodaran
Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
Thadavara
Madhavan
Puthiya Theerppu
Maanagara Kaaval
IG Jayaprakash
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
Vathiyaar
Idhaya Veenai
Andhaman Kaidhi
Aavesham
Shekaran
Pelli Naati Pramanalu
Then Nilavu
Raj
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
Guruviah
Raman Thediya Seethai
Lakshmi Kalyanam
Poo Parikka Varugirom
Narayanan
Nadodi
Eetti
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
Lorry Driver Rajakannu
Needhiyin Nizhal
Enga Ooru Pattukaran
Kallampattiyan
Thambi Thanga Kambi
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
Velundu Vinaiyillai
Padagotti
Simma Soppanam
Vetri
Puthiya Theerpu
Kaaval Nilayam
Andhavar
Nil Gavani Kadhali
Gang Leader
Arasa Kattalai
Kaaval Dheivam
Sirithu Vazha Vendum
Rajarajan
Thanga Pappa
Adaikkalam
Kaavalkaaran
Marudachalam
Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam
Bhaaga Pirivinai
Aasai Mugam
Naan Aanaiyittal
Rani Samyuktha
Mohammad Ghori
Vamsa Vilakku
Raasaiyya
Thaayin Madiyil
Miruthanga Chakravarthi
Karpukarasi
Navarathinam
Dharmaseelan
Thigambara Samiar
Chokkalingam Pillai
Moovendhar
Meenava Nanban
Arun
Makkalai Petra Magarasi
Kannan
Punniya Boomi
Mugaraasi
Thanippiravi
Sub-inspector Soundharam
Thaali Bhagyam
Namchivayam
Sarvadhikari
Adimai Changili
Thangapadumai
Nambinar Keduvadhillai
Sangili
Ambikapathy
Enga Oor Raja
Annaiyin Aanai
Enga Ooru Sippai
Avasara Police 100
Ellorum Innattu Mannar
Annai Illam
Nadodi Paattukkaran
Neeya?
Appu Kuttan
Bhuloka Rambhai
Arasilangumari
Savale Samali
Rajavelu
Errakota Veerudu
Oorukku Oru Pillai
Vanangaamudi
Mohini
Raja Kumari
Thirudadhe
Parvaiyin Marupakkam
Pudhiya Boomi
Naam
Illarame Nallaram
Neengalum Herothan
M. N. Nambiar