Cast & creator

M. N. Nambiar

1919-03-05 (died at 89) Kannur, Kerala, IndiaIMDb

Best known for Kaveri, Kannamma, Kurathi Magan

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.

Also known as: M N Nambiyar, Nambiar, M.N. Nambiar, M.N.Nambiyar

Movies

227

film credits

Series

television credits

Career

227

1947–2007 · acting roles

Credit score

6.9

average across scored titles

Signature credits

Known for

Ordered by popularity

Kaveri

Gnananandar · 1955

Kannamma

Gnanaprakasam · 1972

★ 7.0

Kurathi Magan

Jambilingam · 1972

★ 5.3

Parakkum Paavai

Rangasamy · 1966

Ezhai Pangalan

Acting · 1963

Across film & television

Filmography (227)

Showing 227 of 227 credits

M. N. Nambiar

Known for

Kaveri

Kannamma

Kurathi Magan

Parakkum Paavai

Ezhai Pangalan

Filmography (227)

Kaveri

Kannamma

Kurathi Magan

Parakkum Paavai

Ezhai Pangalan

Dhikku Theriyadha Kaattil

Enga Oor Raja

Kumbakarai Thangaiah

Sakkarai Panthal

Karimedu Karuvayan

Aayiram Kannudayaal

Kalyana Rasi

Pozhuthu Vidinchachu

Puthiya Theerpu

Manasukkeththa Mappillai

Raja Muthirai

Thai Mozhi

Thanga Mama

Paavathin Sambalam

Ragasiya Police 115

Baba

Pasamulla Pandiyare

Vettaikaaran

Naan Yen Pirandhen

Thai Veedu

Nyayam

Poove Unakkaga

Rajaraja Cholan

Neengalum Herothan

Thambi Durai

Tenali Raman

Pudhiya Boomi

Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu

Harichandra

Uthama Puthiran

Naan Sigappu Manithan

Mugaraasi

Sarvadhikari

Mohini

Manthiri Kumari

Aayirathil Oruvan

Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala

Enga Ooru Pattukaran

Elan Kandru

Naan Petra Selvam

Rajakumari

Jagathalaprathapan

Sathyam

Abhimanyu

Thaai Mookaambikai

Pellinaati Pramanalu

Periya Marudhu

Gentleman

Chandhrodhayam

Maanagara Kaaval

Vetri

Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan

Naalai Namadhe

Thangamalai Ragasiyam

Nallavan

Savale Samali

Thooral Ninnu Pochu

Thigambara Samiar

Raasaiyya

Aavesham

Thanga Pappa

Devaki

En Kelvikku Enna Bathil

Pulan Visaranai

Sarangadhara

Rambayin Kadhal

Vanangaamudi