M. N. Nambiar
Born March 05, 1919 (Age: 107)
•
Kannur, Kerala, India
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.
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.
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Filmography
Kuttrapathirikai
2007
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as
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Age: 88
Baba
2002
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as Baba's Maternal Uncle
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Age: 83
Varushamellam Vasantham
2002
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as
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Age: 83
No Image
Poonthottam
1998
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as
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Age: 79
No Image
Moovendhar
1998
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as
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Age: 78
Adimai Changili
1997
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as
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Age: 78
No Image
Pasamulla Pandiyare
1997
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as Nesamani
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Age: 78
No Image
Vallal
1997
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as Dharmarasu
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Age: 78
Poove Unakkaga
1996
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as Sadhasivam
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Age: 76
Gentleman
1993
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as Ramesh's Father
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Age: 74
Sakkarai Devan
1993
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as
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Age: 74
No Image
Thanga Pappa
1993
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as Adaikkalam
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Age: 74
Yejaman
1993
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as Vaanavarayan's grandfather
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Age: 73
No Image
Ezhai Jaathi
1993
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as
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Age: 73
Villu Pattukaran
1992
•
as
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Age: 73
No Image
Kaaviya Thalaivan
1992
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as Damodaran
•
Age: 73
No Image
Nadodi Paattukkaran
1992
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as
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Age: 73
No Image
Thanga Manasukkaran
1992
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as Sadha Swamy
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Age: 73
Maanagara Kaaval
1991
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as IG Jayaprakash
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Age: 72
No Image
Kaaval Nilayam
1991
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as Andhavar
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Age: 72
Captain Prabhakaran
1991
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as Special Task Force Officer
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Age: 72
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Enga Ooru Sippai
1991
•
as
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Age: 72
Kumbakarai Thangaiah
1991
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as
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Age: 71
Avasara Police 100
1990
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as
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Age: 71
No Image
Periya Veettu Panakkaran
1990
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as
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Age: 71
Neengalum Herothan
1990
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as M. N. Nambiar
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Age: 71
Jagathalaprathapan
1990
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as John Frederick
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Age: 71
Pulan Visaranai
1990
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as
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Age: 70
No Image
Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal
1989
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as Thirumalai Naicker
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Age: 70
No Image
Paandi Naattu Thangam
1989
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as Thangapandian's father
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Age: 70
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan
1989
•
as
•
Age: 70
Thaai Naadu
1989
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as Saleem Bhai
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Age: 69
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Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
1988
•
as
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Age: 69
Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran
1988
•
as
•
Age: 69
No Image
Nallavan
1988
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as
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Age: 69
Thambi Thanga Kambi
1988
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as
•
Age: 69
No Image
Poonthotta Kavalkaran
1988
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as
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Age: 69
No Image
Uzhavan Magan
1987
•
as
•
Age: 68
Jallikkattu
1987
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as
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Age: 68
Krishnan Vandhaan
1987
•
as
•
Age: 68
Enga Ooru Pattukaran
1987
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as Kallampattiyan
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Age: 68
Velundu Vinaiyillai
1987
•
as
•
Age: 68
No Image
Puthiya Theerppu
1985
•
as
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Age: 66
No Image
Puthiya Theerpu
1985
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as
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Age: 66
Raja Rishi
1985
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as Sage Vashishta
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Age: 66
Eetti
1985
•
as
•
Age: 66
Nermai
1985
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as Seetharam
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Age: 66
Naan Sigappu Manithan
1985
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as Senior Police Officer
•
Age: 66
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Needhiyin Nizhal
1985
•
as
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Age: 66
No Image
Thadavara
1981
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as Madhavan
•
Age: 62
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Garjanai
1981
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as
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Age: 62
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Lorry Driver Rajakannu
1981
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as
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Age: 62
Ram Lakshman
1981
•
as
•
Age: 61
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Kolilakkam
1981
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as
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Age: 61
Deiva Thirumanangal
1981
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as
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Age: 61
Saranam Ayyappa
1980
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as
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Age: 61
Sakthi
1980
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as Vikraman
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Age: 61
Guru
1980
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as Head of anti-social group
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Age: 61
Ratha Paasam
1980
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as
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Age: 61
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
1978
•
as
•
Age: 59
No Image
Punniya Boomi
1978
•
as
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Age: 59
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan
1978
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as The Prince Raja Rajan
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Age: 58
Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga
1977
•
as
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Age: 58
Sirithu Vazha Vendum
1974
•
as
•
Age: 55
Urimai Kural
1974
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as Doreswamy
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Age: 55
Netru Indru Naalai
1974
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as Rathnam (the false)
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Age: 55
Rajapart Rangadurai
1973
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as Somasundaram
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Age: 54
Errakota Veerudu
1973
•
as
•
Age: 54
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
1973
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as
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Age: 54
Rajaraja Cholan
1973
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as Bala Thevar
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Age: 54
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Idhaya Veenai
1972
•
as
•
Age: 53
No Image
Raman Thediya Seethai
1972
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as
•
Age: 53
Adi Parasakthi
1971
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as
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Age: 52
Sivandha Mann
1969
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as Diwan, the main antagonist
•
Age: 50
Deiva Magan
1969
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as Ananth
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Age: 50
Anjal Petti 520
1969
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as Nagarajan
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Age: 50
No Image
Kanne Pappa
1969
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as Inspector James
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Age: 50
Kaaval Dheivam
1969
•
as
•
Age: 50
Nil Gavani Kadhali
1969
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as Gang Leader
•
Age: 49
Lakshmi Kalyanam
1968
•
as
•
Age: 49
Harichandra
1968
•
as
•
Age: 49
No Image
Aasai Mugam
1965
•
as
•
Age: 46
Aayirathil Oruvan
1965
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as Pirate Captain
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Age: 46
Enga Veettu Pillai
1965
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as Gajendran
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Age: 45
No Image
Thaayin Madiyil
1964
•
as
•
Age: 45
Padagotti
1964
•
as
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Age: 45
Thozhilali
1964
•
as Velu
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Age: 45
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Dheiva Thaai
1964
•
as Madhan
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Age: 45
No Image
En Kadamai
1964
•
as
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Age: 45
No Image
Vettaikaaran
1964
•
as
•
Age: 44
No Image
Annai Illam
1963
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as
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Age: 44
Nenjam Marappathillai
1963
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as Zamindar
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Age: 44
Kalai Arasi
1963
•
as
•
Age: 44
No Image
Chitor Rani Padmini
1963
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as Malik Kafur
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Age: 43
No Image
Kudumba Thalaivan
1962
•
as
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Age: 43
Rani Samyuktha
1962
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as Mohammad Ghori
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Age: 42
Then Nilavu
1961
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as Raj
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Age: 42
Nallavan Vazhvan
1961
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as Inspector Madhavan
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Age: 42
Pasamalar
1961
•
as Rathnam
•
Age: 42
No Image
Thirudadhe
1961
•
as
•
Age: 42
No Image
Arasilangumari
1960
•
as
•
Age: 41
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Ellorum Innattu Mannar
1960
•
as
•
Age: 41
No Image
Bhaaga Pirivinai
1959
•
as
•
Age: 40
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Pelli Naati Pramanalu
1959
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as
•
Age: 40
Kalyana Parisu
1959
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as
•
Age: 40
No Image
Thangapadumai
1959
•
as
•
Age: 39
Nadodi Mannan
1958
•
as
•
Age: 39
No Image
Sarangadhara
1958
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as Mahadevan
•
Age: 39
No Image
Illarame Nallaram
1958
•
as
•
Age: 39
Annaiyin Aanai
1958
•
as
•
Age: 39
No Image
Uthama Puthiran
1958
•
as Naganathan
•
Age: 38
Bhooloka Rambai
1958
•
as
•
Age: 38
Rambayin Kadhal
1956
•
as Narada
•
Age: 37
Amara Deepam
1956
•
as
•
Age: 37
No Image
Naan Petra Selvam
1956
•
as Sundar
•
Age: 36
No Image
Doctor Savithri
1955
•
as Krishnamoorthi
•
Age: 36
No Image
Kanavane Kan Kanda Deivam
1955
•
as
•
Age: 36
No Image
Naam
1953
•
as
•
Age: 33
Thigambara Samiar
1950
•
as Chokkalingam Pillai
•
Age: 31
No Image
Manthiri Kumari
1950
•
as Royal Priest
•
Age: 31
No Image
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
1950
•
as
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Age: 31