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