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