M. N. Nambiar

M. N. Nambiar
എം.എൻ. നമ്പ്യാർ
Born Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar
7 March 1919
Kannur, Malabar, British Raj (now in Kerala, India)
Died 19 November 2008 (aged 89)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Ethnicity Malayali
Spouse(s) Rukmani

Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar (Malayalam: മഞ്ഞേരി നാരായണൻ നമ്പ്യാർ; 7 March 1919 – 19 November 2008), known as M. N. 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.

Early life

M. N. Nambiar was born on 7 March 1919. While still a child, his father died and so he moved to live and study in Ooty with his elder sister and brother-in-law.[1] He became interested in acting when he was 13 and he joined Nawab Rajamanikkam's troupe. From then on acting became the only thing that occupied him. His first film was 'Bhaktha Ramadoss', shot in 1935 in Hindi and Tamil, where he played as a comedian along with T.K.Sampangi.

Film career

Though he 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 from Balaiyah to Manoj (Bharathiraaja's son).

His first pay was Rs.3 in the "Boys Company." He would retain Re 1 and send Rs.2 to his mother. A man of very limited needs, he has never eaten food not cooked by his wife, Rugmini Nambiar. A doyen of kalari & sword fighting, Nambiar swami was a fitness fanatic even before it became fashionable to be so.

He made quite a statement in the early 50s with his portrayal of 11 roles in ‘Dhigambara Samiyar.’ 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.[2]

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.[3]

His favourite films remain `Aayirathil Oruvan' with MGR, `Ambikapathi' with Sivaji Ganesan, `Missiyamma' with Gemini Ganesan, `Nenjam Marappathillai' directed by Sridhar and `Thooral Ninu Pochu' with Bhagyaraj. This was the film that made him do character roles, something that he continued to do till his death. He also acted as hero in two films `Kalyani' and `Kavitha' produced by Modern Theatres.

He has done stage, films and also acted on TV dramas like 'Oviyam' and Velan. When it comes to acting, he supposedly likes all the actors; but of special mention are M. R. Radha and Savitri. Both, in his opinion, were brilliant in their own way.

Partial Filmography

Year Film Language Notes
1935 Bhaktha Ramadas Tamil Debut film as a comedian
1946 Vidyapathi Tamil
1947 Rajakumari Tamil
1947 Kanjan Tamil
1948 Abhimanyu Tamil
1949 Velaikaari Tamil
1950 Manthiri Kumari Tamil Rajaguru
1951 Marmayogi Tamil
1951 Sarvadhikari Tamil Remake of The Gallant Blade[4]
1952 Jungle English
1953 Petrathai Tamil
1953 Kanna Talli Telugu Sankar
1956 Amara Deepam Tamil
1957 Rajarajan Tamil
1958 Uthama Puthiran Tamil
1958 Nadodi Mannan Tamil
1961 Pasamalar Tamil
1963 Panathootam Tamil
1965 Enga Veetu Pillai Tamil
1965 Aayirathil Oruvan Tamil
1966 Thali Bhagyam Tamil
1966 Nadodi Tamil
1966 Naan Aanaiyital Tamil
1967 Kaavalkkaran Tamil
1968 Pudhiya Bhoomi Tamil
1968 Ragasiya Police 115 Tamil
1976 Satyam Tamil
1978 Thacoli Ambu Malayalam
1979 Avesham Malayalam Shekhar
1979 Pancharatnam Malayalam
1979 Mamankam Malayalam
1980 Chandra Bimbam Malayalam
1980 Arangum Aniyarayum Malayalam
1980 Shakthi Malayalam
1980 Guru Tamil
1981 Garjanai Tamil
1981 Kolilallam Malayalam
1981 Thadavara Malayalam
1982 Chilanthivala Malayalam Shekhar
1982 Thooral Ninnu Pochu Tamil
1983 Thai Veedu Tamil
1984 Naan Mahaan Alla Tamil
1986 Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu Tamil
1993 Gentleman Tamil
1993 Paasamalargal Tamil
1993 Yejaman Tamil
1996 Poove Unakkaga Tamil
1997 Vallal Tamil
1998 Moovendhar Tamil
1999 Rojavanam Tamil
1999 Pooparika Varugirom Tamil
2001 Sharja To Sharja Malayalam
2001 Vinnukkum Mannukkum Tamil
2002 Varushamellam Vasantham Tamil
2002 Baba Tamil
2003 Winner Tamil
2004 Arasatchi Tamil
2005 Anbe Aaruyire Tamil
2006 Sudesi Tamil

Death

Nambiar suffered from bacterial infection and died at his residence in Chennai on 19 November 2008. As his last act on Earth, he looked at his wife (the woman he loved above all) one final time & then slowly closed his eyes. He was survived by his wife Rugmini Amma, 2 sons — one, a senior BJP leader Sukumar Nambiar, and the other, Mohan Nambiar, a prominent businessman based in Coimbatore and a daughter, Sneha Nambiar. His eldest son Sukumar Nambiar died on 8 January 2012 aged 63 and later his wife Rugmini Amma also died on 11 April 2012 aged 82.

Tributes

"If there was anyone who could act with both the top heroes (Sivaji Ganesan and M. G. R.) of Tamil cinema then, it was Nambiar. At one point, directors could not think of anyone else but him to play villain."

"This is a very big loss...you cannot find a human being like him easily."

"He was a villain only when the camera got rolling...otherwise, he’d always keep us laughing with his ready wit,"

"In ‘Nenjam Marappadillai,’ he plays a really old man...the makeup would take hours together, but he would be extremely patient. His skin was flawless and almost pink...he took great care of his health."

"Nambiar swami was responsible for taking most of us in the industry to Sabarimalai"

"I have acted with him in several films. He would be very jovial and enthusiastic on the sets. When one worked with him, one forgot the burden of work. He was very fond of me and I always had great regard and respect for him. His passing away is a great loss indeed."

References

  1. ↑ MOHAN V. RAMAN (16 November 2010). "Reel villain, real hero". Chennai, India: The Hindu. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/09/29/stories/09290226.htm
  3. ↑ "A handsome villain". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 20 November 2008.
  4. ↑ "Sarvadhikari 1951". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 25 October 2008.

External links