Chennai: The birth centenary of eminent Tamil film artiste and Maha Guruswamy M. N. Nambiar will be celebrated in the city next week. Nambiar, who was a ‘charming’ villain and later loved as a character artiste, left an indelible mark in Tamil film industry.
Besides, being popular for his roles in several blockbuster films with leading actors of the day, he was also known for his devotion towards Sabarimala Ayyappa. He had visited the temple umpteen times and had led a team of over 100 devotees to the temple every year for several decades.
On March 2 (Saturday), Hamsadhwani will be staging S.Shivpprasadh’s Nataka Kavalar Chemmal R.S.Manohar’s NXGs Dhroner to mark birth centenary celebrations of M.N.Nambiar. Nambiar’s family, devotees who had gone on a pilgrimage with him to Sabarimala, colleagues who had worked with him on and off stage and screen and artistes fraternity will participate in the celebrations.
Tributes will be paid to him highlighting his achievements in theatre and films.
Shivpprasadh, who had gone with Nambiar to Sabarimala for several years, said, “He was a strict disciplinarian. Pujas will be held in a devotee’s house everyday and all were expected to take part in it on all 48 days. He will always take the Periya Padhai to Sabarimala. We will all go in two/three buses from Chennai. Cooks will also be part of the group and food will be prepared for all. His endurance and vigour were exemplary. He ensured we too built our stamina.”
Asked why Dhroner was being staged to mark the occasion, Shivpprasadh said, “MNN as a boy was part of Nawab Rajamanickam Pillai drama troupe and acted in mythological plays. Dhroner was guru to Pandavas, Kauravas, Ekalavya and Dhrishtadyumna, He treated all equally without fear or favour. Similarly,
M. N Nambiar, as Maha Guruswamy, was not discriminatory towards any devotee. From Amitabh, Rajkumar to Tamil film artistes, several film fraternity members were part of his Sabarimala pilgrimage accepting him as their guru.” M. N. Nambiar’s birth centenary falls on March 7.
