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.
210 movies
Kuttrapathirikai
2007·0.0
Sudesi
2006·5.0
Winner
2003·4.6
Anbe Anbe
2003·6.5
Kadhal Sadugudu
2003·5.9
Baba
2002·6.3
Varushamellam Vasantham
2002·0.0
Sharjah to Sharjah
2001·5.4
Ninaikkatha Naalillai
2001·0.0
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
2001·0.0
Vinnukkum Mannukkum
2001·2.6
Poo Parikka Varugirom
1999·0.0
Rojavanam
1999·4.0
Endrendrum Kadhal
1999·6.5
Poonthottam
1998·8.0
Moovendhar
1998·5.8
Thambi Durai
1997·6.0
Adimai Changili
1997·5.0
Pasamulla Pandiyare
1997·0.0
Vallal
1997·0.0
Poove Unakkaga
1996·7.2
Thotta Chinungi
1995·0.0
Raasaiyya
1995·8.0
Kattumarakaran
1995·0.0
Karuppu Nila
1995·0.0
Periya Marudhu
1994·3.0
Paasamalargal
1994·0.0
Sethupathi I.P.S
1994·8.2
Gentleman
1993·7.3
Sakkarai Devan
1993·9.0
Thanga Pappa
1993·0.0
Yejaman
1993·7.2
Ezhai Jaathi
1993·5.0
Villu Pattukaran
1992·6.0
Kaaviya Thalaivan
1992·9.0
Nadodi Paattukkaran
1992·0.0
Thanga Manasukkaran
1992·9.0
Maanagara Kaaval
1991·0.0
Kaaval Nilayam
1991·3.0
Enga Ooru Sippai
1991·0.0
Captain Prabhakaran
1991·6.6
Kumbakarai Thangaiah
1991·7.0
Avasara Police 100
1990·8.0
Periya Veettu Panakkaran
1990·0.0
Neengalum Herothan
1990·0.0
Jagathalaprathapan
1990·5.0
Pulan Visaranai
1990·6.0
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
1989·5.0
Paandi Naattu Thangam
1989·10.0
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan
1989·8.0
Thaai Naadu
1989·0.0
Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
1988·0.0
Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran
1988·7.0
Nallavan
1988·0.0
Thambi Thanga Kambi
1988·10.0
Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran
1988·0.0
Uzhavan Magan
1987·4.0
Jallikkattu
1987·7.5
Krishnan Vandhaan
1987·9.0
Enga Ooru Pattukaran
1987·10.0
Velundu Vinaiyillai
1987·5.0
Dharma Devathai
1986·0.0
Iravu Pookkal
1986·0.0
Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu
1986·6.4
Nambinar Keduvadhillai
1986·0.0
Puthiya Theerpu
1985·0.0
Puthiya Theerppu
1985·5.3
Raja Rishi
1985·9.0
Eetti
1985·0.0
Nermai
1985·0.0
Needhiyin Nizhal
1985·0.0
Naan Sigappu Manithan
1985·6.4
Vamsa Vilakku
1984·0.0
Iru Medhaigal
1984·0.0
Ezhuthatha Sattangal
1984·0.0
Simma Soppanam
1984·0.0
Sarithira Nayagan
1984·9.0
Nyayam
1984·0.0
Vaazhkai
1984·6.5
Tharaasu
1984·0.0
Vetri
1984·8.0
Naan Mahaan Alla
1984·5.5
Miruthanga Chakravarthi
1983·0.0
Saatchi
1983·3.0
Sandhippu
1983·7.0
Dowry Kalyanam
1983·0.0
Thai Veedu
1983·4.0
Thaai Mookaambikai
1982·8.0
Sangili
1982·7.0
Thooral Ninnu Pochu
1982·9.0
Parvaiyin Marupakkam
1982·4.0
Oorukku Oru Pillai
1982·0.0
Thadavara
1981·8.0
Garjanai
1981·6.5
Lorry Driver Rajakannu
1981·0.0
Ram Lakshman
1981·7.5
Kolilakkam
1981·8.0
Deiva Thirumanangal
1981·9.0
Saranam Ayyappa
1980·0.0
Sakthi
1980·8.0
Guru
1980·6.2
Ratha Paasam
1980·0.0
Vetrikku Oruvan
1979·8.0
Aavesham
1979·0.0
Thirisoolam
1979·7.0
Neeya?
1979·7.0
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
1978·5.0
Paavathin Sambalam
1978·6.0
Punniya Boomi
1978·0.0
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
1978·9.0
Meenava Nanban
1977·0.0
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga
1977·6.5
Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga
1977·8.0
Navarathinam
1977·8.0
Sathyam
1976·0.0
Anna Nee En Deivam
1976·0.0
Naalai Namadhe
1975·0.0
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
1975·7.0
Sirithu Vazha Vendum
1974·6.0
Urimai Kural
1974·6.7
Netru Indru Naalai
1974·10.0
Rajapart Rangadurai
1973·6.5
Errakota Veerudu
1973·4.0
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
1973·4.8
Rajaraja Cholan
1973·8.5
Idhaya Veenai
1972·7.0
Naan Yen Pirandhen
1972·0.0
Raman Thediya Seethai
1972·10.0
Kannamma
1972·0.0
Adi Parasakthi
1971·7.0
Savale Samali
1971·5.5
En Annan
1970·6.8
Sivandha Mann
1969·6.0
Deiva Magan
1969·7.0
Anjal Petti 520
1969·6.0
Kanne Pappa
1969·0.0
Kaaval Dheivam
1969·10.0
Nil Gavani Kadhali
1969·0.0
Anbalippu
1969·0.0
Lakshmi Kalyanam
1968·0.0
Harichandra
1968·8.0
Enga Oor Raja
1968·0.0
Thillana Mohanambal
1968·7.3
Pudhiya Boomi
1968·5.0
Kudiyirundha Koyil
1968·6.5
Ragasiya Police 115
1968·7.0
Kaavalkaaran
1967·7.0
Arasa Kattalai
1967·7.0
Thanippiravi
1966·3.5
Thaali Bhagyam
1966·0.0
Mugaraasi
1966·0.0
Chandhrodhayam
1966·0.0
Nadodi
1966·8.0
Naan Aanaiyittal
1966·6.8
Aasai Mugam
1965·0.0
Aayirathil Oruvan
1965·5.3
Enga Veettu Pillai
1965·7.3
Thaayin Madiyil
1964·5.2
Padagotti
1964·7.5
Thozhilali
1964·0.0
Dheiva Thaai
1964·0.0
En Kadamai
1964·6.0
Vettaikaaran
1964·5.0
Annai Illam
1963·5.0
Nenjam Marappathillai
1963·7.5
Kalai Arasi
1963·0.0
Chitor Rani Padmini
1963·9.0
Kudumba Thalaivan
1962·0.0
Rani Samyuktha
1962·0.0
Then Nilavu
1961·6.5
Nallavan Vazhvan
1961·7.0
Pasamalar
1961·6.7
Thirudadhe
1961·2.0
Arasilangumari
1960·0.0
Ellorum Innattu Mannar
1960·7.0
Bhaaga Pirivinai
1959·8.0
Kalyana Parisu
1959·5.7
Thangapadumai
1959·10.0
Pellinaati Pramanalu
1958·7.0
Nadodi Mannan
1958·6.3
Sarangadhara
1958·0.0
Illarame Nallaram
1958·8.0
Annaiyin Aanai
1958·8.0
Uthama Puthiran
1958·7.3
Bhooloka Rambai
1958·10.0
Ambikapathy
1957·8.0
Thangamalai Ragasiyam
1957·7.0
Karpukarasi
1957·9.0
Rajarajan
1957·4.0
Vanangaamudi
1957·7.0
Makkalai Petra Magarasi
1957·7.0
Rambayin Kadhal
1956·0.0
Amara Deepam
1956·9.0
Tenali Raman
1956·8.0
Naan Petra Selvam
1956·0.0
Doctor Savithri
1955·0.0
Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam
1955·9.0
Naam
1953·0.0
The Jungle
1952·4.5
Andhaman Kaidhi
1952·10.0
Sarvadhikari
1951·10.0
Devaki
1951·0.0
Marmayogi
1951·7.0
Thigambara Samiar
1950·0.0
Manthiri Kumari
1950·10.0
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
1950·0.0
Velaikari
1949·8.0
Mohini
1948·0.0
Abhimanyu
1948·0.0
Rajakumari
1947·8.0