MGR Nambi
{{Short description|Film director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = MGR Nambi
| image =
| imagesize =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Kovilpatti
| education = MAA MPhill
| occupation = Director
Actor
Politician
| othername = R. Renjith Kumar
Nambiraj
| nationality = Indian
| yearsactive = 1981 - current
| spouse =
| children = 2
| parents =
}}
Nambirajan is an Indian film director who has worked on Tamil films. He made his directorial debut in the 1980s, before proceeding to make Nila (1994) and Chandralekha (1995).
Career
Initially under the name Ranjith Kumar, Nambirajan made several low-budget films in the 1980s. Udhayamagirathu (1981), Manjal Nila (1982), Kunguma Pottu (1982), Anbe Odi Vaa (1984) and Ungalil Oruvan (1985) were made in quick succession.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/die-hard-mgr-fan-gears-up-tamil-news-40600.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318034929/https://www.indiaglitz.com/die-hard-mgr-fan-gears-up-tamil-news-40600.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 March 2023|title=- Tamil News|website=IndiaGlitz.com}} He changed his name to and Nambirajan made Nila (1994) featuring Jayaram in the lead role, before working with Vijay in Chandralekha (1995). A further film with Ajith Kumar during the period titled Muthu Pechi, failed to materialise.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFF4XGrgloA|title="I wish I knew Tamil better!" - Ajith | Thala Ajithkumar Interview | Sun TV Throwback|via=www.youtube.com}} In the late 1990s, he launched two films where he was set to be director and actor, Getti Maellam alongside Khushbu and then Rukkumani opposite Sri Kanya. Neither film was released, despite the former having an audio launch.
In 2009, NJ revealed that he had changed his name to MGR Nambi and was worked on producing and directing a new project titled Poruthiru for his new production house, MGR Studios. The name change was reportedly as a result of his close ties with actor M. G. Ramachandran, who had advised Nambirajan to join the Adyar Film Institute as a teenager.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kollywoodtoday.net/news/earlier-nambirajan-now-mgr-nambi/|title = Earlier Nambirajan, now MGR Nambi|date = 7 August 2008}} He also started his own recording studio in Saligramam for films to complete post-production work.{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/july-09-02/m-g-r-nambi-11-07-09.html|title=Director MGR Nambi's new recording studio - Behindwoods.com - Tamil Movie News - Nambirajan Jayaram Vinitha Chandralekha Nila|website=www.behindwoods.com}} The shoot for Poruthiru developed through 2010 with newcomers in the lead role, but the film failed to get a theatrical release. Similarly another film titled Sudalai Mannan, a tale on a revolutionary who fought against the British empire, failed to materialise.{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/jul-10-02/poruthiru-nambirajan-10-07-10.html|title=Nambirajan - Tamil Movie News - Poruthiru's Malaysian connection - Nambirajan | Chandralekha | Nila | Ganja Karuppu | Ramesh Kanna - Behindwoods.com|website=www.behindwoods.com}} He then launched an audacious project titled Kaala Bhairavi, a multilingual film reportedly with a budget of 100 crores, which was to feature foreign actors Robert Johnson and Alicia, along with Bharath Reddy. The film failed to develop post a grand launch event.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/tale-of-a-city/article3020548.ece|title=Tale of a city|newspaper=The Hindu|date=5 February 2010|via=www.thehindu.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/feb-10-01/kala-bhairavi-nila-chandralekha-04-02-10.html|title=A 100-crore film - Tamil Movie News - MGR Nambi | Kala Bhairavi | Nila | Chandralekha - Behindwoods.com|website=www.behindwoods.com}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#f5f5f5;" | ||
| style="background:#B0C4DE;"
! Year ! Film !class=unsortable| Notes | ||
| 1981 | Udhayamagirathu | |
| 1982 | Manjal Nila | |
| 1983 | Kunguma Pottu | |
| 1984 | Anbe Odi Vaa | |
| 1985 | Ungalil Oruvan | |
| 1986 | Kungamapottu | |
| 1994 | Nila | |
| 1995 | Chandralekha | |
| 1997 | Maa Ayana Bangaram | Telugu film |
= As Actor =
| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#f5f5f5;" | ||
| style="background:#B0C4DE;"
! Year ! Film !class=unsortable| Notes | ||
| 2025 | Konjam Kadhal Konjam Modhal |