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M. N. Nambiar

Acting Born Mar 5, 1919 Died Nov 19, 2008 Kannur, Kerala, India 210 credits

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 fifty years. Born on March 5, 1919, in Kannur, Kerala, India, he was also known as Nambiar Swami or Maha Guruswami. He was a spiritual leader who pioneered the movement of taking pilgrims to Sabarimala. Having started his career as a hero, he eventually became synonymous with villainy in Kollywood and worked with seven generations of actors. His first pay was three rupees with Boys Company, from which he retained one rupee and sent two rupees to his mother. In the early nineteen-fifties, he made a statement by portraying eleven roles in Digambara Samiyar. He passed away on November 19, 2008, at the age of eighty-nine.

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Career

Career overview

M. N. Nambiar, born Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar on March 5, 1919, in Kannur, Kerala, India, was a prominent film actor in Tamil cinema. He dominated the industry in the role of the villain for around 50 years. Although he started his career as a hero, he eventually became so well known for playing villains that his name became synonymous with villainy in Kollywood. Over the course of his extensive career, Nambiar worked with seven generations of actors and amassed 210 known credits on the Movie Database.

His early career began with the Boys Company, where his first pay was three rupees. He would retain one rupee and send the remaining two rupees to his mother. In the early 1950s, Nambiar made a significant statement in the film industry with his portrayal of eleven different roles in Digambara Samiyar.

Beyond his acting career, Nambiar was also known as Nambiar Swami or Maha Guruswami. He was a spiritual leader who pioneered the movement of taking pilgrims to Sabarimala. He passed away on November 19, 2008, at the age of 89.

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Known for

Film

Baba

as Baba's Maternal Uncle

On the Border

as Sethupathi, Vijay's father
Film

Poove Unakkaga

as Sadhasivam
Film

Pulan Visaranai

as DGP
Film

Naan Sigappu Manithan

as Senior Police Officer
Film

Naan Mahaan Alla

as GMK
▦ Film

Vamsa Vilakku

1984

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Hound of the Baskervilles

1981
Film

Deiva Thirumanangal

1981
Film

Neeya?

as Appu Kuttan
Film

Urimai Kural

as Doreswamy
Film

Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

1973

Frequent co-stars

M. G. Ramachandran 5 shared titles
Nagesh 4 shared titles
Thengai Srinivasan 3 shared titles
Sivaji Ganesan 3 shared titles
B. Saroja Devi 3 shared titles
Rajinikanth 2 shared titles
Sathyaraj 2 shared titles
Senthil 2 shared titles
V. Gopalakrishnan 2 shared titles
V. S. Raghavan 2 shared titles

Career timeline

Kuttrapathirikai
Sudesi
WinnerKadhal SaduguduAnbe Anbe
Varushamellam VasanthamBaba
Ninaikkatha NaalillaiSonnal Thaan KaadhalaSharjah to SharjahVinnukkum Mannukkum
Endrendrum KadhalRojavanamPoo Parikka Varugirom
MoovendharPoonthottam
Thambi DuraiPasamulla PandiyareVallalAdimai Changili
Poove Unakkaga
RaasaiyyaThotta ChinungiKattumarakaranKaruppu Nila
Periya MarudhuPaasamalargalSethupathi I.P.S
Thanga PappaSakkarai DevanGentlemanYejamanEzhai Jaathi
Thanga ManasukkaranVillu PattukaranKaaviya ThalaivanNadodi Paattukkaran
Kumbakarai ThangaiahMaanagara KaavalEnga Ooru SippaiCaptain PrabhakaranKaaval Nilayam
Pulan VisaranaiAvasara Police 100JagathalaprathapanNeengalum HerothanPeriya Veettu Panakkaran
Paandi Naattu ThangamThaai NaaduPaattukku Oru ThalaivanMeenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
Manaivi Oru MandhiriNallavanThambi Thanga KambiPoonthotta KaavalkaaranEnga Ooru Kaavakkaaran
Velundu VinaiyillaiKrishnan VandhaanEnga Ooru PattukaranUzhavan MaganJallikkattu
Iravu PookkalMella Thirandhadhu KadhavuDharma DevathaiNambinar Keduvadhillai
EettiNaan Sigappu ManithanNeedhiyin NizhalRaja RishiPuthiya Theerppu
NyayamVetriNaan Mahaan AllaVamsa VilakkuTharaasu
Thai VeeduMiruthanga ChakravarthiSandhippuSaatchiDowry Kalyanam
Thooral Ninnu PochuThaai MookaambikaiSangiliParvaiyin MarupakkamOorukku Oru Pillai
Ram LakshmanDeiva ThirumanangalGarjanaiKolilakkamLorry Driver Rajakannu
Ratha PaasamGuruSakthiSaranam Ayyappa
AaveshamNeeya?ThirisoolamVetrikku Oruvan
Paavathin SambalamMadhuraiyai Meetta SundharapandiyanEn Kelvikku Enna BathilPunniya Boomi
NavarathinamIndru Pol Endrum VaazhgaMeenava NanbanIndru Pol Endrum Vazhga
Anna Nee En DeivamSathyam
Naalai NamadheNinaithadhai Mudippavan

Full filmography

  • Kuttrapathirikai (2007)
  • Sudesi (2006)
  • Winner (2003) as Velayutham
  • Kadhal Sadugudu (2003) as Kausalya`s Grandfather
  • Anbe Anbe (2003)
  • Varushamellam Vasantham (2002)
  • Baba (2002) as Baba's Maternal Uncle
  • Ninaikkatha Naalillai (2001)
  • Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala (2001) as Mumtaj's father
  • Sharjah to Sharjah (2001) as Valiya Kappithan
  • Vinnukkum Mannukkum (2001) as Cameo
  • Endrendrum Kadhal (1999) as Sethupathi, Vijay's father
  • Rojavanam (1999)
  • Poo Parikka Varugirom (1999) as Narayanan
  • Moovendhar (1998)
  • Poonthottam (1998)
  • Thambi Durai (1997)
  • Pasamulla Pandiyare (1997) as Nesamani
  • Vallal (1997) as Dharmarasu
  • Adimai Changili (1997)
  • Poove Unakkaga (1996) as Sadhasivam
  • Raasaiyya (1995)
  • Thotta Chinungi (1995)
  • Kattumarakaran (1995) as Vaidehi's grandfather
  • Karuppu Nila (1995) as Nandhini's father
  • Periya Marudhu (1994)
  • Paasamalargal (1994)
  • Sethupathi I.P.S (1994) as Ramarathnam
  • Thanga Pappa (1993) as Adaikkalam
  • Sakkarai Devan (1993) as Sarasu Grandfather
  • Gentleman (1993) as Ramesh's Father
  • Yejaman (1993) as Vaanavarayan's grandfather
  • Ezhai Jaathi (1993) as Iyer
  • Thanga Manasukkaran (1992) as Sadha Swamy
  • Villu Pattukaran (1992)
  • Kaaviya Thalaivan (1992) as Damodaran
  • Nadodi Paattukkaran (1992)
  • Kumbakarai Thangaiah (1991)
  • Maanagara Kaaval (1991) as IG Jayaprakash
  • Enga Ooru Sippai (1991)
  • Captain Prabhakaran (1991) as Special Task Force Officer
  • Kaaval Nilayam (1991) as Andhavar
  • Pulan Visaranai (1990) as DGP
  • Avasara Police 100 (1990)
  • Jagathalaprathapan (1990) as John Frederick
  • Neengalum Herothan (1990) as M. N. Nambiar
  • Periya Veettu Panakkaran (1990)
  • Paandi Naattu Thangam (1989) as Thangapandian's father
  • Thaai Naadu (1989) as Saleem Bhai
  • Paattukku Oru Thalaivan (1989)
  • Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal (1989) as Thirumalai Naicker
  • Manaivi Oru Mandhiri (1988)
  • Nallavan (1988)
  • Thambi Thanga Kambi (1988)
  • Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran (1988)
  • Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran (1988)
  • Velundu Vinaiyillai (1987)
  • Krishnan Vandhaan (1987)
  • Enga Ooru Pattukaran (1987) as Kallampattiyan
  • Uzhavan Magan (1987)
  • Jallikkattu (1987)
  • Iravu Pookkal (1986)
  • Mella Thirandhadhu Kadhavu (1986) as Hindi Teacher and Noorjahan's Father
  • Dharma Devathai (1986)
  • Nambinar Keduvadhillai (1986)
  • Eetti (1985)
  • Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985) as Senior Police Officer
  • Needhiyin Nizhal (1985) as Krishna Prasad
  • Raja Rishi (1985) as Sage Vashishta
  • Puthiya Theerppu (1985)
  • Nermai (1985) as Seetharam
  • Puthiya Theerpu (1985)
  • Nyayam (1984)
  • Vetri (1984)
  • Naan Mahaan Alla (1984) as GMK
  • Vamsa Vilakku (1984)
  • Tharaasu (1984)
  • Vaazhkai (1984)
  • Simma Soppanam (1984)
  • Iru Medhaigal (1984)
  • Ezhuthatha Sattangal (1984) as Farooq
  • Sarithira Nayagan (1984)
  • Thai Veedu (1983)
  • Miruthanga Chakravarthi (1983)
  • Sandhippu (1983) as Vedagiri
  • Saatchi (1983)
  • Dowry Kalyanam (1983) as Rowther
  • Thooral Ninnu Pochu (1982) as Kusthi Vaathiyaar
  • Thaai Mookaambikai (1982)
  • Sangili (1982)
  • Parvaiyin Marupakkam (1982)
  • Oorukku Oru Pillai (1982)
  • Ram Lakshman (1981) as Chandrasekar
  • Deiva Thirumanangal (1981)
  • Garjanai (1981)
  • Kolilakkam (1981)
  • Lorry Driver Rajakannu (1981)
  • Thadavara (1981) as Madhavan
  • Ratha Paasam (1980)
  • Guru (1980) as Head of anti-social group
  • Sakthi (1980) as Vikraman
  • Saranam Ayyappa (1980)
  • Aavesham (1979) as Shekaran
  • Neeya? (1979) as Appu Kuttan
  • Thirisoolam (1979)
  • Vetrikku Oruvan (1979)
  • Paavathin Sambalam (1978)
  • Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan (1978) as The Prince Raja Rajan
  • En Kelvikku Enna Bathil (1978)
  • Punniya Boomi (1978)
  • Navarathinam (1977) as Dharmaseelan
  • Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga (1977) as Guruviah
  • Meenava Nanban (1977) as Arun
  • Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga (1977)
  • Anna Nee En Deivam (1976)
  • Sathyam (1976)
  • Naalai Namadhe (1975)
  • Ninaithadhai Mudippavan (1975) as Mohan
  • Urimai Kural (1974) as Doreswamy
  • Sirithu Vazha Vendum (1974)
  • Netru Indru Naalai (1974) as Rathnam (the false)
  • Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (1973)
  • Rajapart Rangadurai (1973) as Somasundaram
  • Errakota Veerudu (1973)
  • Rajaraja Cholan (1973) as Bala Thevar
  • Naan Yen Pirandhen (1972) as Rajan
  • Kannamma (1972) as Gnanaprakasam
  • Idhaya Veenai (1972)
  • Raman Thediya Seethai (1972)
  • Savale Samali (1971) as Rajavelu
  • Adi Parasakthi (1971)
  • En Annan (1970) as Nayagam
  • Anbalippu (1969) as Vasudevan
  • Nil Gavani Kadhali (1969) as Gang Leader
  • Deiva Magan (1969) as Ananth
  • Kaaval Dheivam (1969)
  • Sivandha Mann (1969) as Diwan
  • Kanne Pappa (1969) as Inspector James
  • Anjal Petti 520 (1969) as Nagarajan
  • Pudhiya Boomi (1968)
  • Ragasiya Police 115 (1968)
  • Harichandra (1968)
  • Thillana Mohanambal (1968) as Maharaja of Madhanpur
  • Kudiyirundha Koyil (1968)
  • Lakshmi Kalyanam (1968)
  • Enga Oor Raja (1968)
  • Kaavalkaaran (1967) as Marudachalam
  • Arasa Kattalai (1967)
  • Mugaraasi (1966)
  • Naan Aanaiyittal (1966)
  • Nadodi (1966)
  • Chandhrodhayam (1966) as Paranthaman
  • Thaali Bhagyam (1966) as Namchivayam
  • Thanippiravi (1966) as Sub-inspector Soundharam
  • Aasai Mugam (1965)
  • Aayirathil Oruvan (1965) as Pirate Captain
  • Enga Veettu Pillai (1965) as Gajendran
  • Vettaikaaran (1964)
  • En Kadamai (1964)
  • Thaayin Madiyil (1964)
  • Padagotti (1964)
  • Thozhilali (1964) as Velu
  • Dheiva Thaai (1964) as Madhan
  • Chitor Rani Padmini (1963) as Malik Kafur
  • Annai Illam (1963)
  • Kalai Arasi (1963)
  • Nenjam Marappathillai (1963) as Zamindar
  • Kudumba Thalaivan (1962)
  • Rani Samyuktha (1962) as Mohammad Ghori
  • Thirudadhe (1961)
  • Nallavan Vazhvan (1961) as Inspector Madhavan
  • Pasamalar (1961) as Rathnam
  • Then Nilavu (1961) as Raj
  • Arasilangumari (1960)
  • Ellorum Innattu Mannar (1960)
  • Thangapadumai (1959)
  • Bhaaga Pirivinai (1959)
  • Kalyana Parisu (1959)
  • Nadodi Mannan (1958)
  • Uthama Puthiran (1958) as Naganathan
  • Pellinaati Pramanalu (1958)
  • Sarangadhara (1958) as Mahadevan
  • Bhooloka Rambai (1958)
  • Annaiyin Aanai (1958)
  • Illarame Nallaram (1958)
  • Rajarajan (1957)
  • Thangamalai Ragasiyam (1957)
  • Vanangaamudi (1957)
  • Ambikapathy (1957) as Ottakoothar
  • Makkalai Petra Magarasi (1957) as Kannan
  • Karpukarasi (1957)
  • Tenali Raman (1956) as Rajaguru
  • Rambayin Kadhal (1956) as Narada
  • Naan Petra Selvam (1956) as Sundar
  • Amara Deepam (1956)
  • Doctor Savithri (1955) as Krishnamoorthi
  • Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam (1955)
  • Naam (1953)
  • Andhaman Kaidhi (1952)
  • The Jungle (1952) as Mahaji
  • Sarvadhikari (1951) as Mahavarman
  • Marmayogi (1951)
  • Devaki (1951) as Gopu
  • Thigambara Samiar (1950) as Chokkalingam Pillai
  • Manthiri Kumari (1950) as Royal Priest
  • Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi (1950)
  • Velaikari (1949) as Moorthi / Yogi Hariharadas
  • Mohini (1948)
  • Abhimanyu (1948) as Lakkanan
  • Rajakumari (1947)