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