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
Gentleman
(1993)
Ramesh's Father
Full Filmography
Acting
Raja Kumari
(1947)
Mohini
(1948)
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
(1950)
Manthiri Kumari
(1950)
Royal Priest
Thigambara Samiar
(1950)
Chokkalingam Pillai
Marmayogi
(1951)
Sarvadhikari
(1951)
The Jungle
(1952)
Mahaji
Andhaman Kaidhi
(1952)
Naam
(1953)
Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam
(1955)
Amara Deepam
(1956)
Thangamalai Ragasiyam
(1957)
Ambikapathy
(1957)
Makkalai Petra Magarasi
(1957)
Kannan
Vanangaamudi
(1957)
Karpukarasi
(1957)
Rajarajan
(1957)
Illarame Nallaram
(1958)
Uthama Puthiran
(1958)
Naganathan
Bhuloka Rambhai
(1958)
Nadodi Mannan
(1958)
Annaiyin Aanai
(1958)
Kalyana Parisu
(1959)
Thangapadumai
(1959)
Bhaaga Pirivinai
(1959)
Pelli Naati Pramanalu
(1959)
Ellorum Innattu Mannar
(1960)
Arasilangumari
(1960)
Pasamalar
(1961)
Rathnam
Then Nilavu
(1961)
Raj
Thirudadhe
(1961)
Kudumba Thalaivan
(1962)
Rani Samyuktha
(1962)
Mohammad Ghori
Annai Illam
(1963)
Kalai Arasi
(1963)
Nenjam Marappathillai
(1963)
Zamindar
En Kadamai
(1964)
Vettaikaaran
(1964)
Thaayin Madiyil
(1964)
Padagotti
(1964)
Dheiva Thaai
(1964)
Madhan
Thozhilali
(1964)
Velu
Aayirathil Oruvan
(1965)
Pirate Leader
Enga Veettu Pillai
(1965)
Gajendran
Aasai Mugam
(1965)
Mugaraasi
(1966)
Thaali Bhagyam
(1966)
Namchivayam
Nadodi
(1966)
Naan Aanaiyittal
(1966)
Thanippiravi
(1966)
Sub-inspector Soundharam
Arasa Kattalai
(1967)
Kaavalkaaran
(1967)
Marudachalam
Enga Oor Raja
(1968)
Pudhiya Boomi
(1968)
Kudiyirundha Koyil
(1968)
Ragasiya Police 115
(1968)
Harichandra
(1968)
Lakshmi Kalyanam
(1968)
Thillana Mohanambal
(1968)
Maharaja of Madhanpur
Deiva Magan
(1969)
Ananth
Sivandha Mann
(1969)
Diwan, the main antagonist
Kaaval Dheivam
(1969)
Nil Gavani Kadhali
(1969)
Gang Leader
Anjal Petti 520
(1969)
Nagarajan
Kanne Pappa
(1969)
Inspector James
En Annan
(1970)
Nayagam
Savale Samali
(1971)
Rajavelu
Adi Parasakthi
(1971)
Raman Thediya Seethai
(1972)
Idhaya Veenai
(1972)
Rajapart Rangadurai
(1973)
Somasundaram
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
(1973)
Rajaraja Cholan
(1973)
Bala Thevar
Errakota Veerudu
(1973)
Urimai Kural
(1974)
Doreswamy
Sirithu Vazha Vendum
(1974)
Netru Indru Naalai
(1974)
Rathnam (the false)
Naalai Namadhe
(1975)
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
(1975)
Mohan
Sathyam
(1976)
Meenava Nanban
(1977)
Arun
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
(1977)
Guruviah
Navarathinam
(1977)
Dharmaseelan
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
(1978)
Punniya Boomi
(1978)
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
(1978)
The Prince Raja Rajan
Neeya?
(1979)
Appu Kuttan
Thirisoolam
(1979)
Vetrikku Oruvan
(1979)
Aavesham
(1979)
Shekaran
Ratha Paasam
(1980)
Sakthi
(1980)
Vikraman
Guru
(1980)
Head of anti-social group
Saranam Ayyappa
(1980)
Ram Lakshman
(1981)
Garjanai
(1981)
Lorry Driver Rajakannu
(1981)
Kolilakkam
(1981)
Thadavara
(1981)
Madhavan
Deiva Thirumanangal
(1981)
Parvaiyin Marupakkam
(1982)
Thai Mookambhikai
(1982)
Oorukku Oru Pillai
(1982)
Sangili
(1982)
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
(1982)
Vathiyaar
Thai Veedu
(1983)
Saatchi
(1983)
Miruthanga Chakravarthi
(1983)
Sandhippu
(1983)
Dowry Kalyanam
(1983)
Rowther
Vetri
(1984)
Naan Mahaan Alla
(1984)
GMK
Sarithira Nayagan
(1984)
Vaazhkai
(1984)
Iru Medhaigal
(1984)
Vamsa Vilakku
(1984)
Ezhudhaadha Sattangal
(1984)
Simma Soppanam
(1984)
Tharaasu
(1984)
Naan Sigappu Manithan
(1985)
Senior Police Officer
Raja Rishi
(1985)
Sage Vashishta
Nermai
(1985)
Needhiyin Nizhal
(1985)
Puthiya Theerppu
(1985)
Eetti
(1985)
Puthiya Theerpu
(1985)
Nambinar Keduvadhillai
(1986)
Dharma Devathai
(1986)
Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
(1986)
Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
Velundu Vinaiyillai
(1987)
Uzhavan Magan
(1987)
Jallikkattu
(1987)
Krishnan Vandhaan
(1987)
Enga Ooru Pattukaran
(1987)
Kallampattiyan
Poonthotta Kavalkaran
(1988)
Thambi Thanga Kambi
(1988)
Nallavan
(1988)
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
(1988)
Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran
(1988)
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan
(1989)
Paandi Naattu Thangam
(1989)
Thangapandian's father
Thaai Naadu
(1989)
Saleem Bhai
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
(1989)
Thirumalai Naicker
Periya Veettu Panakkaran
(1990)
Pulan Visaranai
(1990)
Avasara Police 100
(1990)
Jagathalaprathapan
(1990)
John Frederick
Kaaval Nilayam
(1991)
Andhavar
Maanagara Kaaval
(1991)
IG Jayaprakash
Kumbakarai Thangaiah
(1991)
Captain Prabhakaran
(1991)
Special Task Force Officer
Enga Ooru Sippai
(1991)
Nadodi Paattukkaran
(1992)
Thanga Manasukkaran
(1992)
Sadha Swamy
Villu Pattukaran
(1992)
Kaaviya Thalaivan
(1992)
Damodaran
Sakkarai Devan
(1993)
Ezhai Jaathi
(1993)
Gentleman
(1993)
Ramesh's Father
Yejaman
(1993)
Vaanavarayan's grandfather
Thanga Pappa
(1993)
Adaikkalam
Periya Marudhu
(1994)
Sethupathi I.P.S
(1994)
Paasamalargal
(1994)
Karuppu Nila
(1995)
Nandhini's father
Thotta Chinungi
(1995)
Raasaiyya
(1995)
Kattumarakaran
(1995)
Vaidehi's grandfather
Poove Unakkaga
(1996)
Sadhasivam
Adimai Changili
(1997)
Vallal
(1997)
Pasamulla Pandiyare
(1997)
Nesamani
Moovendhar
(1998)
Poonthottam
(1998)
Poo Parikka Varugirom
(1999)
Rojavanam
(1999)
Endrendrum Kadhal
(1999)
Sethupathi, Vijay's father
Vinnukkum Mannukkum
(2001)
Cameo
Sharjah to Sharjah
(2001)
Kappithan
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
(2001)
Mumtaj's father
Varushamellam Vasantham
(2002)
Baba
(2002)
Baba's Maternal Uncle
Winner
(2003)
Velayutham
Kadhal Sadugudu
(2003)
Kausalya`s Grandfather
Anbe Anbe
(2003)
Sudesi
(2006)
Kuttrapathirikai
(2007)