M. N. Nambiar
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Ponnunjal
Ponnan
1973
Film
Rajaraja Cholan
Bala Thevar
1973
Film
Kaveri
Gnananandar
1955
Film
Harichandra
1968
Thaai
Kumar
1974
Film
Kurathi Magan
Jambilingam
1972
Mannavan Vanthaanadi
Punyakodi
1975
Puthiya Theerpu
1985
Kannamma
Gnanaprakasam
1972
Ezhai Pangalan
1963
Aayiram Kannudayaal
1986
Manasukkeththa Mappillai
1990
Kalyana Rasi
1990
Enga Oor Raja
Rajankam
1968
Dhikku Theriyadha Kaattil
Kali Muthu
1972
Film
Baba
Baba's Maternal Uncle
2002
Parakkum Paavai
Rangasamy
1966
Film
Kumbakarai Thangaiah
1991
Elan Kandru
1985
Raja Muthirai
1995
Sakkarai Panthal
1988
Film
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
1978
Film
Poove Unakkaga
Sadhasivam
1996
Pozhuthu Vidinchachu
1984
Film
Pasamulla Pandiyare
Nesamani
1997
Thambi Durai
1997
Thanga Mama
1985
Thai Mozhi
Church Father
1992
Vettaikaaran
1964
Film
Gentleman
Ramesh's Father
1993
Film
Ratha Paasam
1980
Karimedu Karuvayan
1986
Film
Thillana Mohanambal
Maharaja of Madhanpur
1968
Film
Aayirathil Oruvan
Pirate Captain
1965
Film
Rani Samyuktha
Mohammad Ghori
1962
Devaki
Gopu
1951
Pudhiya Boomi
1968
Film
Anna Nee En Deivam
1976
Film
Manthiri Kumari
Royal Priest
1950
Film
Thai Veedu
1983
Film
Sarvadhikari
Mahavarman
1951
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
Kusthi Vaathiyaar
1982
Ragasiya Police 115
Inspector Kumar / Krishnan
1968
Film
Nil Gavani Kadhali
Gang Leader
1969
Nyayam
1984
Film
Ram Lakshman
Chandrasekar
1981
Film
Varushamellam Vasantham
2002
Film
Endrendrum Kadhal
Sethupathi, Vijay's father
1999
Chitor Rani Padmini
Malik Kafur
1963
Film
Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga
1977
Thaai Mookaambikai
1982
Mohini
1948
Film
Velaikari
Moorthi / Yogi Hariharadas
1949
Naalai Namadhe
1975
Film
Deiva Thirumanangal
1981
Film
Abhimanyu
Lakkanan
1948
Film
Tenali Raman
Rajaguru
1956
Film
Saranam Ayyappa
1980
Film
Sathyam
1976
Film
Naan Petra Selvam
Sundar
1956
Mugaraasi
1966
Film
Rambayin Kadhal
Narada
1956
Film
Jagathalaprathapan
John Frederick
1990
Film
Sakkarai Devan
Sarasu Grandfather
1993
Ninaikkatha Naalillai
2001
Film
Rajakumari
1947
Paandi Naattu Thangam
Thangapandian's father
1989
Film
Thigambara Samiar
Chokkalingam Pillai
1950
Film
Winner
Velayutham
2003
Dharma Devathai
1986
Film
Sirithu Vazha Vendum
1974
Film
Naan Mahaan Alla
GMK
1984
Moovendhar
1998
Film
Naan Sigappu Manithan
Senior Police Officer
1985
Anbalippu
Vasudevan
1969
Film
Eetti
1985
Film
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
The Prince Raja Rajan
1978
Film
Sharjah to Sharjah
Valiya Kappithan
2001
Naam
1953
Film
Pellinaati Pramanalu
1958
Film
Thotta Chinungi
1995
Film
Vetri
1984
Nallavan
1988
Film
Raja Rishi
Sage Vashishta
1985
Film
Kolilakkam
1981
Rajarajan
1957
Film
Pulan Visaranai
DGP
1990
Paavathin Sambalam
1978
Andhaman Kaidhi
1952
Film
Rojavanam
1999
Film
Maanagara Kaaval
IG Jayaprakash
1991
Film
Kadhal Sadugudu
Kausalya`s Grandfather
2003
Doctor Savithri
Krishnamoorthi
1955
Enga Ooru Sippai
1991
Film
Periya Marudhu
1994
Film
Paasamalargal
1994
Film
Velundu Vinaiyillai
1987
Garjanai
1981
Film
Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran
1988
Film
The Jungle
Mahaji
1952
Film
Neeya?
Appu Kuttan
1979
Film
Nallavan Vazhvan
Inspector Madhavan
1961
Thanga Pappa
Adaikkalam
1993
Film
Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
1986
Uzhavan Magan
1987
Uthama Puthiran
Naganathan
1958
Film
Kuttrapathirikai
2007
Bhaaga Pirivinai
Mani
1959
Film
Vinnukkum Mannukkum
Cameo
2001
Iravu Pookkal
1986
Kattumarakaran
Vaidehi's grandfather
1995
Film
Tharaasu
1984
Film
Annaiyin Aanai
1958
Film
Yejaman
Vaanavarayan's grandfather
1993
Navarathinam
Dharmaseelan
1977
Film
Enga Ooru Pattukaran
Kallampattiyan
1987
Film
Neengalum Herothan
M. N. Nambiar
1990
Film
Enga Veettu Pillai
Gajendran
1965
Vallal
Dharmarasu
1997
Film
Kaaval Dheivam
1969
Sarangadhara
Mahadevan
1958
Film
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Mohan
1975
Film
Sandhippu
Vedagiri
1983
Film
Sethupathi I.P.S
Ramarathnam
1994
Film
Sakthi
Vikraman
1980
Film
Thangamalai Ragasiyam
1957
Film
Errakota Veerudu
1973
Film
Nambinar Keduvadhillai
1986
Film
Thambi Thanga Kambi
1988
Needhiyin Nizhal
Krishna Prasad
1985
Kaaval Nilayam
Andhavar
1991
Film
Urimai Kural
Doreswamy
1974
Thangapadumai
1959
Chandhrodhayam
Paranthaman
1966
Ambikapathy
Ottakoothar
1957
Film
Aavesham
Shekaran
1979
Film
Avasara Police 100
1990
Film
Sivandha Mann
Diwan
1969
Ezhai Jaathi
Iyer
1993
Film
Thaai Naadu
Saleem Bhai
1989
Film
Sudesi
2006
Film
Savale Samali
Rajavelu
1971
Vamsa Vilakku
1984
Film
Marmayogi
1951
Film
Krishnan Vandhaan
1987
Naan Yen Pirandhen
Rajan
1972
En Kadamai
1964
Meenava Nanban
Arun
1977
Vetrikku Oruvan
1979
Film
Nenjam Marappathillai
Zamindar
1963
Arasilangumari
1960
Film
Then Nilavu
Raj
1961
Film
Nadodi Mannan
1958
Raman Thediya Seethai
1972
Film
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
Mumtaj's father
2001
Film
Villu Pattukaran
1992
Thaayin Madiyil
1964
Film
Thozhilali
Velu
1964
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
Thirumalai Naicker
1989
Aasai Mugam
1965
Film
Guru
Head of anti-social group
1980
Raasaiyya
1995
Film
Anbe Anbe
2003
Film
Pasamalar
Rathnam
1961
Nadodi
1966
Film
Nermai
Seetharam
1985
Film
Poo Parikka Varugirom
Narayanan
1999
Thadavara
Madhavan
1981
Lorry Driver Rajakannu
1981
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
1950
Film
Kaavalkaaran
Marudachalam
1967
Film
Rajapart Rangadurai
Somasundaram
1973
Naan Aanaiyittal
1966
Film
Lakshmi Kalyanam
1968
Punniya Boomi
1978
Idhaya Veenai
1972
Film
Karuppu Nila
Nandhini's father
1995
Film
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
1973
Film
Amara Deepam
1956
Film
Adi Parasakthi
1971
Film
Thanga Manasukkaran
Sadha Swamy
1992
Sarithira Nayagan
1984
Film
Padagotti
1964
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
1988
Kanne Pappa
Inspector James
1969
Annai Illam
1963
Film
Vaazhkai
1984
Kudumba Thalaivan
1962
Film
Periya Veettu Panakkaran
1990
Vanangaamudi
1957
Film
Ezhuthatha Sattangal
Farooq
1984
Film
En Annan
Nayagam
1970
Thirudadhe
1961
Poonthottam
1998
Film
Adimai Changili
1997
Sangili
1982
Miruthanga Chakravarthi
1983
Kaaviya Thalaivan
Damodaran
1992
Film
Deiva Magan
Ananth
1969
Makkalai Petra Magarasi
Kannan
1957
Film
Jallikkattu
1987
Parvaiyin Marupakkam
1982
Film
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan
1989
Film
Netru Indru Naalai
Rathnam (the false)
1974
Film
Iru Medhaigal
1984
Arasa Kattalai
1967
Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam
1955
Nadodi Paattukkaran
1992
Film
Bhooloka Rambai
1958
Thaali Bhagyam
Namchivayam
1966
Film
Kulama Gunama
Nallakannu
1971
Film
Dowry Kalyanam
Rowther
1983
Saatchi
1983
Film
Thirisoolam
1979
Film
Captain Prabhakaran
Special Task Force Officer
1991
Film
Anjal Petti 520
Nagarajan
1969
Karpukarasi
1957
Film
Kudiyirundha Koyil
1968
Film
Kalyana Parisu
1959
Film
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
Guruviah
1977
Oorukku Oru Pillai
1982
Film
Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran
1988
Simma Soppanam
1984
Thanippiravi
Sub-inspector Soundharam
1966
Illarame Nallaram
1958
Film
Kalai Arasi
1963
Ellorum Innattu Mannar
1960
Dheiva Thaai
Madhan
1964