M. N. Nambiar

from Kannur, Kerala, India

Artwork for GentlemanImage of M. N. Nambiar

Biography

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.

Timeline

2007Aged 88

  • Poster for Kuttrapathirikai

    (Unknown)

2006Aged 87

  • Poster for Sudesi

    (Unknown)

2003Aged 84

  • Poster for Kadhal Sadugudu

    Kausalya`s Grandfather

  • Poster for Anbe Anbe

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for Winner

    Velayutham

2002Aged 83

  • Poster for Varushamellam Vasantham

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for Baba

    Baba's Maternal Uncle

2001Aged 82

1999Aged 80

  • Poster for Endrendrum Kadhal

    Sethupathi, Vijay's father

  • Poster for Rojavanam

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for Poo Parikka Varugirom

    Narayanan

1998Aged 79

1997Aged 78

  • Vallal

    Dharmarasu

  • Poster for Pasamulla Pandiyare

    Nesamani

  • Poster for Adimai Changili

    (Unknown)

1996Aged 77

  • Poster for Poove Unakkaga

    Sadhasivam

1995Aged 76

1994Aged 75

  • Poster for Sethupathi I.P.S

    Ramarathnam

  • Poster for Paasamalargal

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for Periya Marudhu

    (Unknown)

1993Aged 74

1992Aged 73

1991Aged 72

1990Aged 71

  • Poster for Pulan Visaranai

    DGP

  • Poster for Jagathalaprathapan

    John Frederick

  • Poster for Neengalum Herothan

    M. N. Nambiar

  • Poster for Periya Veettu Panakkaran

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for Avasara Police 100

    (Unknown)

1989Aged 70

1988Aged 69

1987Aged 68

1986Aged 67

1985Aged 66

1984Aged 65

1983Aged 64

1982Aged 63

1981Aged 62

1980Aged 61

  • Poster for Ratha Paasam

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for Guru

    Head of anti-social group

  • Poster for Sakthi

    Vikraman

  • Poster for Saranam Ayyappa

    (Unknown)

1979Aged 60

1978Aged 59

1977Aged 58

1976Aged 57

  • Poster for Anna Nee En Deivam

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for Sathyam

    (Unknown)

1975Aged 56

1974Aged 55

  • Poster for Netru Indru Naalai

    Rathnam (the false)

  • Poster for Urimai Kural

    Doreswamy

  • Poster for Sirithu Vazha Vendum

    (Unknown)

1973Aged 54

  • Poster for Rajaraja Cholan

    Bala Thevar

  • Poster for Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for Errakota Veerudu

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for Rajapart Rangadurai

    Somasundaram

1972Aged 53

1971Aged 52

  • Poster for Savale Samali

    Rajavelu

  • Poster for Adi Parasakthi

    (Unknown)

1970Aged 51

  • Poster for En Annan

    Nayagam

1969Aged 50

1968Aged 49

1967Aged 48

1966Aged 47

1965Aged 46

1964Aged 45

1963Aged 44

1962Aged 43

1961Aged 42

1960Aged 41

1959Aged 40

1958Aged 39

1957Aged 38

1956Aged 37

1955Aged 36

1953Aged 34

1952Aged 33

1951Aged 32

1950Aged 31

1949Aged 30

  • Poster for Velaikari

    Moorthi / Yogi Hariharadas

1948Aged 29

  • Poster for Abhimanyu

    Supporting Actor

  • Mohini

    (Unknown)

1947Aged 28

  • Poster for Rajakumari

    (Unknown)

© 2026 FilmFlow