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{{Short description|Annual Indian film award}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}

{{Infobox film award
| name = Kerala State Film Award for Best Director
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Recent winner : [[Chidambaram S. Poduval]] for the Movie, ''[[Manjummel Boys]]''
| subheader = State award for contributions to [[Malayalam cinema]]
| awarded_for = Award for excellence in direction
| sponsor = [[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]]
| firstawarded = 1969
| lastawarded = 2024
| reward =
| former name =
| holder_label = Most recent winner
| holder = [[Chidambaram S. Poduval]] <br/> (''[[Manjummel Boys]]'')
| award1_type = Total awarded
| award1_winner = 54
| award2_type = First winner
| award2_winner = [[A. Vincent]]<br />( ''[[Nadhi (film)|Nadhi]]'' )
| award3_type = Last winner
| award3_winner =
| website =
| previous =
| next =
}}
The '''Kerala State Film Award for Best Director''' is an honour presented annually at the [[Kerala State Film Awards]] of India since 1969. It is given to a film director who has exhibited outstanding direction while working in the [[Malayalam film industry]]. Until 1997, the awards were managed directly by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the [[Government of Kerala]]. Since 1998, the [[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]], an autonomous non-profit organisation functioning under the Department of Cultural Affairs, has been exercising control over the awards.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v_BkAAAAMAAJ |title=Festival Book |publisher=[[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]] |year=2004 |page=8}}</ref> The recipients are decided by an independent jury formed by the academy.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4xQwAQAAIAAJ |title=India Today International |publisher=[[Living Media]] India Limited |year=1999 |page=52}}</ref> They are declared by the Minister for Cultural Affairs and are presented by the [[List of Chief Ministers of Kerala|Chief Minister]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/sweta-menon-s-daughter-hogs-limelight-at-state-film-awards-imagegallery-malayalam-mlhkPcffjegsi.html |title=Sweta Menon's daughter hogs limelight at State Film Awards |website=[[Sify]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102121613/http://www.sify.com/movies/sweta-menon-s-daughter-hogs-limelight-at-state-film-awards-imagegallery-malayalam-mlhkPcffjegsi.html |archive-date=2 November 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=26 September 2015}}</ref>

The first Kerala State Film Awards ceremony was held in 1970 with cinematographer-director [[A. Vincent]] receiving the Best Director award for his work in ''[[Nadhi (film)|Nadhi]]'' (1969).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R7QNGkZKc5wC|title=Cultural Heritage of Kerala|publisher=[[DC Books]]|year=2008|isbn=978-81-264-1903-6|last=Menon|first=A. Sreedhara|page=54|access-date=4 May 2017|archive-date=24 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024131449/https://books.google.com/books?id=R7QNGkZKc5wC|url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout the years, accounting for ties and repeat winners, the Government of Kerala has presented a total of 50 best director awards to 25 different filmmakers. The recipients receive a figurine, a certificate, and a cash prize of {{INRConvert|2|l||lk=r}}.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/cabinet-amends-norms-governing-state-film-awards/article7203975.ece |title=Cabinet amends norms governing State film awards |date=14 May 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411144951/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/cabinet-amends-norms-governing-state-film-awards/article7203975.ece |archive-date=11 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|The average exchange rate in 2019 was 68.53 [[Indian rupee]]s ({{INR}}) per 1 US dollar (US$)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/business/rupee-vs-dollar-currency-exchange-march-22-2019-rupee-strengthens-against-us-dollar-inr-vs-usd-2011295|title=Rupee Rises Against Dollar, Set To Finish Week Higher: 10 Things To Know|publisher=NDTV|date=22 March 2019|access-date=15 May 2019|archive-date=14 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514192408/https://www.ndtv.com/business/rupee-vs-dollar-currency-exchange-march-22-2019-rupee-strengthens-against-us-dollar-inr-vs-usd-2011295|url-status=live}}</ref>|name=exhange2019}}

[[G. Aravindan]] is the most frequent winner in this category with seven awards. He is followed by [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]] (six awards), [[Shyamaprasad]] (five awards), [[K. S. Sethumadhavan]] (four awards) and [[Blessy]] (three awards). As of 2023, five directors{{mdash}}[[Shaji N. Karun]], [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]], [[T. V. Chandran]], [[Hariharan (director)|Hariharan]] and [[Lijo Jose Pellissery]]{{mdash}} have won the award twice in their careers. The academy did not present the award at the 2002 ceremony.<ref name=nota>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Bhavam-adjudged-best-Malayalam-film-of-2002/articleshow/42894474.cms|title=Bhavam adjudged best Malayalam film of 2002|work=The Times of India|date=9 April 2003|access-date=16 May 2019|archive-date=5 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205050505/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Bhavam-adjudged-best-Malayalam-film-of-2002/articleshow/42894474.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Vidhu Vincent]] was the first female director to win the award in 2016, for her debut film ''[[Manhole (2016 film)|Manhole]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kerala-state-awards-2016-winner-list-964427-2017-03-07|title=Kerala State Awards 2016: Vinayakan bags Best Actor, Vidhu Vincent wins Best Director|work=India Today|date=7 March 2017|access-date=9 May 2019|archive-date=9 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509084457/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kerala-state-awards-2016-winner-list-964427-2017-03-07|url-status=live}}</ref> The most recent recipient was [[Chidambaram S. Poduval]], who received the award for his film ''Manjummel Boys'' in 2024.

== Winners ==

[[File:DirectorAdoor.jpg|alt=An image of Adoor Gopalakrishnan.|thumbnail|upright|Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Aravindan has won the award six times.]]
[[File:Vidhu Vincent IMG 9503.jpg|alt=An image of Vidhu Vincent.|thumbnail|upright|Vidhu Vincent is the only woman to receive the award.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+List of award recipients, showing the year and film(s)
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Recipient
! scope="col" | Film
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|1969
! scope="row" | {{Sort|Vincent|[[A. Vincent]]}}
|''[[Nadhi (film)|Nadhi]]''
|<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/old-is-gold-nadhi-1969/article3591714.ece |title=Old is Gold: Nadhi (1969) |last=Vijayakumar |first=B. |date=1 July 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=5 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505160056/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/old-is-gold-nadhi-1969/article3591714.ece |archive-date=5 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|1970
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Sethumadhavan|[[K. S. Sethumadhavan]]}}
|''[[Aranazhika Neram]]''
|<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/ARANAZHIKANERAM-1970/article16210195.ece |title=Aranazhikaneram (1970) |last=Vijayakumar |first=B. |date=26 July 2010 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=5 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505161427/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/ARANAZHIKANERAM-1970/article16210195.ece |archive-date=5 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|1971
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Sethumadhavan|[[K. S. Sethumadhavan]]}}
|''[[Karakanakadal]]''
|<ref name="1969-80">{{Cite web |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm |title=State Film Awards (1969–80) |publisher=[[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232254/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=26 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
|1972
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Sethumadhavan|[[K. S. Sethumadhavan]]}}
|''[[Panitheeratha Veedu]]''
|<ref name="1969-80" />
|-
|1973
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Nair|[[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]]}}
|''[[Nirmaalyam]]''
|<ref name="1969-80" />
|-
|1974
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Aravindan|[[G. Aravindan]]}}
|''[[Uttarayanam]]''
|<ref name="1969-80" />
|-
|1975
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Backer|[[P. A. Backer]]}}
|''[[Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol]]''
|<ref name="1969-80" />
|-
|1976
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Rajeevnath|[[T. Rajeevnath]]}}
|''[[Thanal (1978 film)|Thanal]]''
|<ref name="1969-80" />
|-
|1977
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Gopalakrishnan|[[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]]}}
|''[[Kodiyettam]]''
|<ref name="1969-80" />
|-
|1978
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Aravindan|[[G. Aravindan]]}}
|''[[Thampu]]''
|<ref name="1969-80" />
|-
|1979
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Aravindan|[[G. Aravindan]]}}
|''[[Esthappan]]''
|<ref name="1969-80" />
|-
|1980
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Sethumadhavan|[[K. S. Sethumadhavan]]}}
|''[[Oppol]]''
|<ref name="1969-80" />
|-
|1981
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Aravindan|[[G. Aravindan]]}}
|''[[Pokkuveyil]]''
|<ref name="1981-90">{{Cite web |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawards2.htm |title=State Film Awards (1981–90) |publisher=[[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234213/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawards2.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=26 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
|1982
! scope="row" |[[Bharathan]]
|''[[Marmaram]]''
|<ref name="1981-90" />
|-
|1983
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Fazil|[[Fazil (director)|Fazil]]}}
|''[[Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku]]''
|<ref name="1981-90" />
|-
|1984
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Gopalakrishnan|[[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]]}}
|''[[Mukhamukham]]''
|<ref name="1981-90" />
|-
|1985
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Aravindan|[[G. Aravindan]]}}
|''[[Chidambaram (film)|Chidambaram]]''
|<ref name="1981-90" />
|-
|1986
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Aravindan|[[G. Aravindan]]}}
|''[[Oridathu]]''
|<ref name="1981-90" />
|-
|1987
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Gopalakrishnan|[[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]]}}
|''[[Anantaram]]''
|<ref name="1981-90" />
|-
|1988
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Kumaran|[[K. P. Kumaran]]}}
|''[[Rugmini]]''
|<ref name="1981-90" />
|-
|1989
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Sasi|[[I. V. Sasi]]}}
|''[[Mrugaya (1989 film)|Mrugaya]]''
|<ref name="1981-90" />
|-
|1990
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Aravindan|[[G. Aravindan]]}}
|''[[Vasthuhara]]''
|<ref name="1981-90" />
|-
|1991
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Kamal|[[Kamal (director)|Kamal]]}}
|''[[Ulladakkam]]''
|<ref name="1991-99">{{Cite web |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawards3.htm |title=State Film Awards (1991–99) |publisher=[[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234157/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawards3.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=26 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
|1992
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Hariharan|[[Hariharan (director)|Hariharan]]}}
|''[[Sargam (1992 film)|Sargam]]''
|<ref name="1991-99" />
|-
|1993
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Gopalakrishnan|[[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]]}}
|''[[Vidheyan]]''
|<ref name="1991-99" />
|-
|1994
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Karun|[[Shaji N. Karun]]}}
|''[[Swaham]]''
|<ref name="1991-99" />
|-
|1995
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Gopalakrishnan|[[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]]}}
|''[[Kathapurushan]]''
|<ref name="1991-99" />
|-
|1996
! scope="row" |[[Jayaraj]]
|''[[Desadanam]]''
|<ref name="1991-99" />
|-
|1997
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Chandran|[[T. V. Chandran]]}}
|''[[Mangamma (film)|Mangamma]]''
|<ref name="1991-99" />
|-
|1998
! scope="row" |[[Shyamaprasad]]
|''[[Agnisakshi (1999 film)|Agnisakshi]]''
|<ref name="1991-99" />
|-
|1999
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Karun|[[Shaji N. Karun]]}}
|''[[Vanaprastham]]''
|<ref name="1991-99" />
|-
|2000
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Nair|[[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]]}}
|''[[Oru Cheru Punchiri]]''
|<ref name="2000-12">{{Cite web |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawards4.htm |title=State Film Awards (2000–12) |publisher=[[Kerala State Chalachitra Academy]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707210332/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawards4.htm |archive-date=7 July 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=26 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
|2001
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Chandran|[[T. V. Chandran]]}}
|''[[Dany (film)|Dany]]''
|<ref name="2000-12" />
|-
|2002
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | No winner
|<ref name=nota/>
|-
|2003
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Malayil|[[Sibi Malayil]]}}
|''[[Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum]]''
|<ref name="2000-12" />
|-
|2004
! scope="row" |[[Shyamaprasad]]
|''[[Akale]]''
|<ref name="2000-12" />
|-
|2005
! scope="row" |[[Blessy]]
|''[[Thanmathra]]''
|<ref name="2000-12" />
|-
|2006
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Rajendran|[[Lenin Rajendran]]}}
|''[[Rathri Mazha]]''
|<ref name="2000-12" />
|-
|2007
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Sasi|[[M. G. Sasi]]}}
|''[[Atayalangal]]''
|<ref name="2000-12" />
|-
|2008
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Gopalakrishnan|[[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]]}}
|''[[Oru Pennum Randaanum]]''
|<ref name="2000-12" />
|-
|2009
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Hariharan|[[Hariharan (director)|Hariharan]]}}
|''[[Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (film)|Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja]]''
|<ref name="2000-12" />
|-
|2010
! scope="row" |[[Shyamaprasad]]
|''[[Elektra (2010 film)|Elektra]]''
|<ref name="2000-12" />
|-
|2011
! scope="row" |[[Blessy]]
|''[[Pranayam (2011 film)|Pranayam]]''
|<ref name="2000-12" />
|-
|2012
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Jose|[[Lal Jose]]}}
|''[[Ayalum Njanum Thammil]]''
|<ref name="2000-12" />
|-
|2013
! scope="row" |[[Shyamaprasad]]
|''[[Artist (film)|Artist]]''
|<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/portrait-of-the-director/article5942998.ece |title=Portrait of the director |last=Nagarajan |first=Saraswathy |date=24 April 2014 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=5 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505155139/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/portrait-of-the-director/article5942998.ece |archive-date=5 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2014
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Sasidharan|[[Sanal Kumar Sasidharan]]}}
|''[[Oraalppokkam]]''
|<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2017/feb/04/sexy-durga-wins-sanal-kumar-sasidharan-the-rotterdam-film-festival-hivos-tiger-prize-1566925.html |title=Sexy Durga wins Sanal Kumar Sasidharan the Rotterdam Film Festival Hivos Tiger Prize |date=4 February 2017 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |access-date=5 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505155348/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2017/feb/04/sexy-durga-wins-sanal-kumar-sasidharan-the-rotterdam-film-festival-hivos-tiger-prize-1566925.html |archive-date=5 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2015
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Prakkat|[[Martin Prakkat]]}}
|''[[Charlie (2015 Malayalam film)|Charlie]]''
|<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/charlie-stars-dulquer-salmaan-parvathy-shine-at-state-film-awards-night-3085593/ |title=Charlie stars Dulquer Salmaan, Parvathy shine at state film awards' night |date=16 October 2016 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=5 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505155604/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/charlie-stars-dulquer-salmaan-parvathy-shine-at-state-film-awards-night-3085593/ |archive-date=5 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2016
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Vincent|[[Vidhu Vincent]]}}
|''[[Manhole (2016 film)|Manhole]]''
|<ref name="Vidhu">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/vidhu-vincent-bags-best-director-award-for-manhole/article17423465.ece |title=Vidhu Vincent bags best director award for 'Manhole' |date=7 March 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504061517/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/vidhu-vincent-bags-best-director-award-for-manhole/article17423465.ece |archive-date=4 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2017
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Pellissery|[[Lijo Jose Pellissery]]}}
|''[[Ee.Ma.Yau.]]''
|<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/parvathy-indrans-and-lijo-jose-win-big-kerala-state-film-awards-2017-77624 |title=Parvathy, Indrans and Lijo Jose win big at Kerala State Film Awards 2017 |date=8 March 2018 |work=The News Minute |access-date=8 March 2018 |archive-date=1 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301120054/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/parvathy-indrans-and-lijo-jose-win-big-kerala-state-film-awards-2017-77624 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|2018
! scope="row" |[[Shyamaprasad]]
|''[[Oru Njayarazhcha]]''
|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/kerala-state-film-awards-2019-kanthan-the-lover-of-colour-wins-best-film-jayasurya-is-best-actor-2050369.html |title=Kerala State Film Awards 2019: Kanthan–The Lover of Colour Wins Best Film, Jayasurya is Best Actor |date=28 February 2019 |website=CNN-News18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301135905/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/kerala-state-film-awards-2019-kanthan-the-lover-of-colour-wins-best-film-jayasurya-is-best-actor-2050369.html |archive-date=1 March 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=2 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
|2019
! scope="row" |{{Sort|Pellissery|[[Lijo Jose Pellissery]]}}
|[[Jallikattu (2019 film)|''Jellikkettu'']]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=മികച്ച നടൻ സുരാജ്, നടി കനി, സ്വഭാവ നടൻ ഫഹദ്, ലിജോ സംവിധായകൻ|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2020/10/13/kerala-state-film-awards-2020-winners-list.html|access-date=2020-10-13|website=ManoramaOnline|language=ml|archive-date=13 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013204651/https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2020/10/13/kerala-state-film-awards-2020-winners-list.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2020
! scope="row" |[[Sidhartha Siva]]
|''Ennivar''
|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/mobile/movies-music/specials/kerala-state-film-awards-2020/kerala-state-film-awards-2020-best-movie-actor-actress-nominations-director-1.6091992 |title=ഗ്രേറ്റ് ഇന്ത്യന്‍ കിച്ചണ്‍ മികച്ച ചിത്രം, നടന്‍ ജയസൂര്യ,നടി അന്ന ബെന്‍ |date=16 October 2021 |access-date=16 October 2021 |work=Mathrubhumi News }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
|2021
! scope="row" |[[Dileesh Pothan]]
|[[Joji (film)|Joji]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=S.R |first=Praveen |date=May 27, 2022 |title=Experimental cinema wins big at 52nd Kerala State Film Awards |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/experimental-cinema-wins-big-at-52nd-kerala-state-film-awards/article65467180.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=27 May 2022 |archive-date=12 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112162733/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/experimental-cinema-wins-big-at-52nd-kerala-state-film-awards/article65467180.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|2022
! scope="row" |[[Mahesh Narayan]]
|''[[Ariyippu]]''
|<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2023/07/21/kerala-state-film-awards-2022-winners-list.html|title=മമ്മൂട്ടി നടൻ, വിൻസി നടി, മഹേഷ് നാരായണൻ സംവിധായകൻ: അവാർഡുകൾ വാരിക്കൂട്ടി 'ന്നാ താൻ കേസ് കൊട്' - Kerala Film Awards|date=21 July 2023|access-date=21 July 2023|work=Manorma Online News|archive-date=21 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721101814/https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2023/07/21/kerala-state-film-awards-2022-winners-list.amp.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/53rd-kerala-state-film-awards-nanpakal-nerathu-mayakkam-best-film-mammootty-vincy-aloshious-mahesh-narayanan-8851060|title=53rd Kerala State Film Awards: Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam named Best Film; Mammootty, Vincy Aloshious, Mahesh Narayanan bag top honours |date=21 July 2023 |access-date=21 July 2023 |work=Indian Express}}</ref>
|-
|2023
! scope="row" |[[Blessy]]
|''[[The Goat Life|Aadujeevitham]]''
|<ref>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/kerala-state-film-awards-2024-winners-list-aadujeevitham-wins-big-prithviraj-urvashi-beena-chandran-take-top-honours-9517307/lite/|title=Kerala State Film Awards 2024 winners list: Aadujeevitham wins big; Prithviraj, Urvashi, Beena Chandran take top honours}}</ref>
|-
|2024
! scope="row" |[[Chidambaram S. Poduval]]
|''[[Manjummel Boys]]''
|<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/11/03/kerala-state-film-awards-2025-list-of-winners-live.html|title=Kerala State Film Awards 2025: Mammootty Best Actor, Shamla Hamza Best Actress, 'Manjummel Boys' is Best Film|work=OnlineManorama.com}}</ref>
|}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120722074426/http://www.keralafilm.com/statefilm.htm Official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232254/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm PRD, Govt. of Kerala: Awardees List]

{{Kerala State film Award}}

{{featured list}}
[[Category:Kerala State Film Awards]]

Kerala State Film Award for Best Director - Revision history

IsraelGuinn0047 at 04:57, 1 February 2026