Acting · Kannur, Kerala, India · Born March 5, 1919
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.
MovieKuttrapathirikai
2007
MovieSudesi
2006
MovieWinner
2003
as Velayutham
MovieAnbe Anbe
2003
MovieKadhal Sadugudu
2003
as Kausalya`s Grandfather
MovieBaba
2002
as Baba's Maternal Uncle
MovieVarushamellam Vasantham
2002
MovieSharjah to Sharjah
2001
as Valiya Kappithan
Ninaikkatha Naalillai
2001
MovieSonnal Thaan Kaadhala
2001
as Mumtaj's father
MovieVinnukkum Mannukkum
2001
as Cameo
MoviePoo Parikka Varugirom
1999
as Narayanan
MovieRojavanam
1999
MovieEndrendrum Kadhal
1999
as Sethupathi, Vijay's father
Poonthottam
1998
Moovendhar
1998
Thambi Durai
1997
MovieAdimai Changili
1997
MoviePasamulla Pandiyare
1997
as Nesamani
Vallal
1997
as Dharmarasu
MoviePoove Unakkaga
1996
as Sadhasivam
MovieThotta Chinungi
1995
Raasaiyya
1995
Kattumarakaran
1995
as Vaidehi's grandfather
MovieKaruppu Nila
1995
as Nandhini's father
MoviePeriya Marudhu
1994
MoviePaasamalargal
1994
MovieSethupathi I.P.S
1994
as Ramarathnam
MovieGentleman
1993
as Ramesh's Father
MovieSakkarai Devan
1993
as Sarasu Grandfather
Thanga Pappa
1993
as Adaikkalam
MovieYejaman
1993
as Vaanavarayan's grandfather
Ezhai Jaathi
1993
as Iyer
MovieVillu Pattukaran
1992
Kaaviya Thalaivan
1992
as Damodaran
Nadodi Paattukkaran
1992
MovieThanga Manasukkaran
1992
as Sadha Swamy
MovieMaanagara Kaaval
1991
as IG Jayaprakash
Kaaval Nilayam
1991
as Andhavar
Enga Ooru Sippai
1991
MovieCaptain Prabhakaran
1991
as Special Task Force Officer
MovieKumbakarai Thangaiah
1991
MovieAvasara Police 100
1990
MoviePeriya Veettu Panakkaran
1990
MovieNeengalum Herothan
1990
as M. N. Nambiar
MovieJagathalaprathapan
1990
as John Frederick
MoviePulan Visaranai
1990
as DGP
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
1989
as Thirumalai Naicker
Paandi Naattu Thangam
1989
as Thangapandian's father
MoviePaattukku Oru Thalaivan
1989
MovieThaai Naadu
1989
as Saleem Bhai
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
1988
MovieEnga Ooru Kaavakkaaran
1988
Nallavan
1988
MovieThambi Thanga Kambi
1988
MoviePoonthotta Kaavalkaaran
1988
Uzhavan Magan
1987
MovieJallikkattu
1987
MovieKrishnan Vandhaan
1987
MovieEnga Ooru Pattukaran
1987
as Kallampattiyan
MovieVelundu Vinaiyillai
1987
Dharma Devathai
1986
Iravu Pookkal
1986
MovieMella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
1986
as Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
MovieNambinar Keduvadhillai
1986
MoviePuthiya Theerpu
1985
Puthiya Theerppu
1985
MovieRaja Rishi
1985
as Sage Vashishta
MovieEetti
1985
MovieNermai
1985
as Seetharam
Needhiyin Nizhal
1985
as Krishna Prasad
MovieNaan Sigappu Manithan
1985
as Senior Police Officer
Vamsa Vilakku
1984
MovieIru Medhaigal
1984
MovieEzhuthatha Sattangal
1984
as Farooq
Simma Soppanam
1984
Sarithira Nayagan
1984
Nyayam
1984
MovieVaazhkai
1984
MovieTharaasu
1984
MovieVetri
1984
MovieNaan Mahaan Alla
1984
as GMK
Miruthanga Chakravarthi
1983
Saatchi
1983
MovieSandhippu
1983
as Vedagiri
MovieDowry Kalyanam
1983
as Rowther
MovieThai Veedu
1983
Thaai Mookaambikai
1982
Sangili
1982
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
1982
as Kusthi Vaathiyaar
Parvaiyin Marupakkam
1982
Oorukku Oru Pillai
1982
Thadavara
1981
as Madhavan
Garjanai
1981
Lorry Driver Rajakannu
1981
MovieRam Lakshman
1981
as Chandrasekar
Kolilakkam
1981
MovieDeiva Thirumanangal
1981
MovieSaranam Ayyappa
1980
MovieSakthi
1980
as Vikraman
MovieGuru
1980
as Head of anti-social group
MovieRatha Paasam
1980
Vetrikku Oruvan
1979
MovieAavesham
1979
as Shekaran
MovieThirisoolam
1979
MovieNeeya?
1979
as Appu Kuttan
MovieEn Kelvikku Enna Bathil
1978
Paavathin Sambalam
1978
Punniya Boomi
1978
MovieMadhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
1978
as The Prince Raja Rajan
Meenava Nanban
1977
as Arun
MovieIndru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
1977
as Guruviah
MovieIndru Pol Endrum Vazhga
1977
Navarathinam
1977
as Dharmaseelan
MovieSathyam
1976
MovieAnna Nee En Deivam
1976
Naalai Namadhe
1975
MovieNinaithadhai Mudippavan
1975
as Mohan
MovieSirithu Vazha Vendum
1974
MovieUrimai Kural
1974
as Doreswamy
MovieNetru Indru Naalai
1974
as Rathnam (the false)
MovieRajapart Rangadurai
1973
as Somasundaram
MovieErrakota Veerudu
1973
MovieUlagam Sutrum Valiban
1973
MovieRajaraja Cholan
1973
as Bala Thevar
Idhaya Veenai
1972
Naan Yen Pirandhen
1972
as Rajan
Raman Thediya Seethai
1972
Kannamma
1972
as Gnanaprakasam
MovieAdi Parasakthi
1971
MovieSavale Samali
1971
as Rajavelu
MovieEn Annan
1970
as Nayagam
MovieSivandha Mann
1969
as Diwan
MovieDeiva Magan
1969
as Ananth
MovieAnjal Petti 520
1969
as Nagarajan
Kanne Pappa
1969
as Inspector James
MovieKaaval Dheivam
1969
MovieNil Gavani Kadhali
1969
as Gang Leader
Anbalippu
1969
as Vasudevan
MovieLakshmi Kalyanam
1968
MovieHarichandra
1968
Enga Oor Raja
1968
MovieThillana Mohanambal
1968
as Maharaja of Madhanpur
Pudhiya Boomi
1968
MovieKudiyirundha Koyil
1968
Ragasiya Police 115
1968
MovieKaavalkaaran
1967
as Marudachalam
Arasa Kattalai
1967
Thanippiravi
1966
as Sub-inspector Soundharam
Thaali Bhagyam
1966
as Namchivayam
Mugaraasi
1966
Chandhrodhayam
1966
as Paranthaman
Nadodi
1966
Naan Aanaiyittal
1966
Aasai Mugam
1965
MovieAayirathil Oruvan
1965
as Pirate Captain
MovieEnga Veettu Pillai
1965
as Gajendran
Thaayin Madiyil
1964
MoviePadagotti
1964
MovieThozhilali
1964
as Velu
Dheiva Thaai
1964
as Madhan
En Kadamai
1964
Vettaikaaran
1964
Annai Illam
1963
MovieNenjam Marappathillai
1963
as Zamindar
MovieKalai Arasi
1963
Chitor Rani Padmini
1963
as Malik Kafur
Kudumba Thalaivan
1962
MovieRani Samyuktha
1962
as Mohammad Ghori
MovieThen Nilavu
1961
as Raj
MovieNallavan Vazhvan
1961
as Inspector Madhavan
MoviePasamalar
1961
as Rathnam
Thirudadhe
1961
Arasilangumari
1960
Ellorum Innattu Mannar
1960
Bhaaga Pirivinai
1959
MovieKalyana Parisu
1959
Thangapadumai
1959
MoviePellinaati Pramanalu
1958
MovieNadodi Mannan
1958
Sarangadhara
1958
as Mahadevan
Illarame Nallaram
1958
MovieAnnaiyin Aanai
1958
Uthama Puthiran
1958
as Naganathan
MovieBhooloka Rambai
1958
Ambikapathy
1957
as Ottakoothar
MovieThangamalai Ragasiyam
1957
Karpukarasi
1957
Rajarajan
1957
Vanangaamudi
1957
Makkalai Petra Magarasi
1957
as Kannan
MovieRambayin Kadhal
1956
as Narada
MovieAmara Deepam
1956
MovieTenali Raman
1956
as Rajaguru
Naan Petra Selvam
1956
as Sundar
Doctor Savithri
1955
as Krishnamoorthi
Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam
1955
Naam
1953
MovieThe Jungle
1952
as Mahaji
Andhaman Kaidhi
1952
Sarvadhikari
1951
as Mahavarman
Devaki
1951
as Gopu
MovieMarmayogi
1951
MovieThigambara Samiar
1950
as Chokkalingam Pillai
MovieManthiri Kumari
1950
as Royal Priest
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
1950
MovieVelaikari
1949
as Moorthi / Yogi Hariharadas
Mohini
1948
MovieAbhimanyu
1948
as Lakkanan
MovieRajakumari
1947
