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