The National Film Award for Best Direction is one of the most prestigious honours in Indian cinema, honouring directors who deliver outstanding direction in filmmaking. The directors with most National Film Awards represent a distinguished group of filmmakers who have consistently demonstrated exceptional talent and vision in Indian cinema.
The directors with most National Film Awards for Best Director have shaped the landscape of the Indian film industry with their award-winning works.
The winners of the National Film Awards for Best Direction include legendary names like Satyajit Ray, Gopalakrishnan, and Mrinal Sen, who have won multiple accolades for their exemplary direction across different languages.
You may also check out the List of Top 10 Richest Film Directors in India
The National Film Award is one of the most prestigious accolades presented annually by the National Film Development Corporation of India, which celebrates excellence and the art of storytelling.
In this blog, you will discover the top directors who have won the most National Film Awards for their direction in Indian cinema. Let’s have a look.
Winners of National Film Awards for Best Direction
Here is the List of directors who won the most number of National Film Awards for Best Direction. Look below and find which one of the legendary director won how many awards for their directing.
| Rank | Director | Number of Wins | Years Won (Films) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Satyajit Ray | 6 | 1967 (Chiriyakhana), 1968 (Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne), 1970 (Pratidwandi), 1974 (Sonar Kella), 1975 (Jana Aranya), 1991 (Agantuk) |
| 2 | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | 5 | 1972 (Swayamvaram), 1984 (Mukhamukham), 1987 (Anantaram), 1989 (Mathilukal), 2007 (Naalu Pennungal) |
| 3 | Mrinal Sen | 4 | 1969 (Bhuvan Shome), 1979 (Ek Din Pratidin), 1980 (Akaler Shandhaney), 1983 (Khandhar) |
| 4 | G. Aravindan | 3 | 1977 (Kanchana Sita), 1978 (Thampu), 1986 (Oridathu) |
| 5 | Buddhadeb Dasgupta | 2 | 1999 (Uttara), 2004 (Swapner Din) |
| 6 | Aparna Sen | 2 | 1981 (36 Chowringhee Lane), 2002 (Mr. and Mrs. Iyer) |
| 7 | Rituparno Ghosh | 2 | 2000 (Utsab), 2009 (Abohomaan) |
| 8 | Goutom Ghosh | 2 | 1992 (Padma Nadir Majhi), 2003 (Abar Aranye) |
| 9 | Jayaraj | 2 | 1997 (Kaliyattam), 2017 (Bhayanakam) |
| 10 | (Many tied, 1 win each) | 1 | Directors like Shyam Benegal, Mani Kaul, Bala, Vetrimaaran, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Sooraj Barjatya, Sudipto Sen, etc. |
1. Satyajit Ray – 6 Times
Satyajit Ray was not just a director but a cinematic genius who left an indelible mark on Indian and world cinema, through exceptional storytelling and way of direction.
Known for his deep storytelling and masterful direction, Ray won the National Film Award for Best Direction six times (1967, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1991), holding an unmatched record that underscores his marvellous contribution to filmmaking.
His influential works, like Chiriyakhana, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne, Pratidwandi, and Sonar Kella, have not only received critical acclaim in India but also won international recognition.
In 1992, Satyajit Ray was honoured with an Oscar for his lifetime achievements, and stands out as one of the most influential directors in the world of cinema.
2. Adoor Gopalakrishnan – 5 Times
Adoor Gopalakrishnan is one of the best directors in Malayalam cinema, who stands out as a towering figure in Indian cinema, admired for his profound storytelling and cinematic craft.
He is known for his exceptional direction in Malayalam films like Swayamvaram (1972), Mukhamukham (1984), Anantaram (1987), Mathilukal (1989), and more.
His debut film, Swayamvaram, revolutionised the Malayalam film industry and the new cinematic narrative style in the 1970s. Apart from national acclaim, Gopalakrishnan’s works have garnered international fame at prestigious film festivals like Venice, Cannes, and Toronto.
He was also awarded with Dadasaheb Phalke Award & Padma Vibhushan. His enduring legacy reflects a unique blend of cultural insight and artistic excellence.
3. Mrinal Sen – 4 Times
Mrinal Sen is an indian film director and screenwriter who is mostly known for his works primarily in Bengali, Hindi, Telugu, and other languages. He was recognised as a towering figure in Indian cinema, celebrated for his socially conscious and thought-provoking films.
Mrinal was awarded with National Film Award for Best Direction 4 times, for his exceptional work in films like Bhuvan Shome (1969), Ek Din Pratidin (1979), Akaler Sandhaney (1980), and Khandhar (1983), reflecting his mastery in portraying human and social realities.
Also renowned as one of the pioneers of India’s parallel cinema movement alongside companions like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, and Tapan Sinha, Sen infused his films with realistic and political awareness, earning numerous national and international accolades.
4. G. Aravindan – 3 Times
G. Aravindan was an indian film director, screenwriter, musician, and visionary filmmaker whose work exceeded conventional storytelling to explore profound philosophical and social themes.
He was one of the parallel pioneers in the Malayalam cinema, mostly known for his unorthodox way of filmmaking, as he changed his cinematic forms consistently, and experimented in storytelling without regular narrative styles.
Aravindan won the National Film Award for Best Direction three times for his exceptional direction in Kanchana Sita (1977), Thampu (1978), and Oridathu (1986).
His unique style combined poetic imagery with deep contemplation, making him one of the most influential directors in Malayalam cinema.
5. B. Dasgupta, Aparna Sen, Rituparno Ghosh, Goutom Ghosh, Jayaraj- 2 Times
B. Dasgupta, Aparna Sen, Rituparno Ghosh, Goutom Ghosh, and Jayaraj are trailblazing filmmakers who redefined Indian cinema with their distinct filmmaking styles, and each one has won 2 National Film Awards for best direction in their career.
Dasgupta brought poetic surrealism with Uttara (1999), Swapner Din (2004). Aprana Sen is a pioneering woman film director who won acclaim for 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981) and Mr. & Mrs. Iyer (2002).
If we talk about the Bengali film industry, director Rituparno Ghosh left an indelible mark through his emotional depth in Utsab (2000) and Abohoman (2009).
Goutam Ghose is another brilliant director from Bengali cinema who fused realism and lyrics in Padma Nadir Majhi (1992) and Abar Aranye (2003).
Jayaraj, from Malayalam cinema, impressed with his experimental brilliance in Kaliyattam (1997) and Bhayanakam (2017). These directors together shaped the legacy of parallel and regional cinema in India.
6. Shyam Benegal, Vetrimaaran, Sanjay Leela Bhansali – 1 Time
Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal was an Indian film director, screenwriter, and documentary filmmaker, standing out as a director who shaped indian cinema with their distinct vision. He is also regarded as the pioneer of parallel cinema, and is widely considered as one of the greatest filmmakers of the post-1970s era.
He has received several accolades, including eighteen National Film Awards and one National Film Award for Best Direction, a Filmfare Award and a Nandi Award. His classics like Ankur, Nishant, and Manthan had left an indelible mark on the audience and cinema.
Vetrimaaran
V. Chitravel Vetrimaaran is a leading filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter in Tamil cinema, admired for his gritty realism and socially charged storytelling. He has won five National Film Awards, including one for the Best Director award for Aadukalam (2010), along with three Filmfare South Awards, Tamil Nadu State Film Award, making him one of the most influential contemporary directors.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is renowned as a trailblazer in the Bollywood film industry. His films consistently received acclaim for their distinctive and innovative style, which has set him apart from other directors.
Besides this, his movies are known for their lavish sets and beautiful costumes. If you are a fan of Bollywood, then you might know that Sanjay’s movies have received critical acclaim and have also been nominated for the Oscars.
He is truly an amazing director. A movie directed by Sanjay Bhansali, “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,” won 4 National Awards and 9 Filmfare Awards, and he also won 1 National Film Award for Best Direction for Bajirao Mastani (2015).
Instead of these, many directors, including Sooraj Barjatya, Sudipto Sen, have won a single National Film Award as Best Director.
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