Karnataka State Film Award for Best Director
Karnataka State Film Award for Best Director is a state film award of the Indian state of Karnataka given during the annual Karnataka State Film Awards. The award honors Kannada language films. This award is presented to the Director of First Best Film award-winning film. This award is named after H. L. N. Simha. The first director of Kannada Cinema who was brought First National Award to Kannada Cinema.
Superlatives
Award winners
The following is a complete list of award winners and the name of the films for which they won.| Year | Winner | Film | Ref. |
| 2018 | Dayal Padmanabhan | Aa Karaala Ratri | |
| 2017 | Adarsh Eshwarappa | Shuddhi | |
| 2016 | B. M. Giriraj | Amaravathi | |
| 2015 | Raam Reddy | Thithi | |
| 2014 | Manjunath S. Reddy | Harivu | |
| 2013 | Nikhil Manjoo | Hajj | |
| 2012 | N. Sudarshan | Thallana | |
| 2011 | Manoj K. Sathi | Prasad | |
| 2010-11 | K. Shivarudraiah | Maagiya Kaala | |
| 2009-10 | Ruthwik Simha | Rasarushi Kuvempu | |
| 2008-09 | Narendra Babu | Kabaddi | |
| 2007-08 | Girish Kasaravalli | Gulabi Talkies | |
| 2006-07 | Yogaraj Bhat | Mungaaru Male | |
| 2005-06 | Girish Kasaravalli | Naayi Neralu | |
| 2004-05 | Indrajith Lankesh | Monalisa | |
| 2003-04 | T. S. Nagabharana | Chigurida Kanasu | |
| 2002-03 | B. Suresh | Artha | |
| 2001-02 | Girish Kasaravalli | Dweepa | |
| 2000-01 | P. R. Ramadas Naidu | Mussanje | |
| 1999-2000 | Kavitha Lankesh | Deveeri | |
| 1998-99 | K. Shivarudraiah | Chaithrada Chiguru | |
| 1997-98 | Girish Kasaravalli | Thaayi Saheba | |
| 1996-97 | Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar | America America | |
| 1995-96 | Chindodi Bangaresh | Sangeetha Sagara Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai | |
| 1994-95 | Vasanth Mokashi | Gangavva Gangamaayi | |
| 1993-94 | Sunil Kumar Desai | Nishkarsha | |
| 1992-93 | Dorai - Bhagwan | Jeevana Chaitra | |
| 1991-92 | Ravindranath | Veerappan | |
| 1990-91 | S. V. Rajendra Singh Babu | Muthina Haara | |
| 1989-90 | Sadananda Suvarna | Kubi Matthu Iyala | |
| 1988-89 | N. T. Jayarama Reddy | Yaaru Hone | |
| 1987-88 | T. S. Nagabharana | Aasphota | |
| 1986-87 | Girish Kasaravalli | Tabarana Kathe | |
| 1985-86 | K. V. Jayaram | Hosa Neeru | |
| 1984-85 | Shankar Nag | Accident | |
| 1983-84 | Baraguru Ramachandrappa | Benki | |
| 1982-83 | Singeetam Srinivasa Rao | Haalu Jenu | |
| 1981-82 | M. S. Sathyu | Bara | |
| 1980-81 | Puttanna Kanagal | Ranganayaki | |
| 1979-80 | Katte Ramachandra | Arivu | |
| 1978-79 | T. S. Nagabharana | Grahana | |
| 1977-78 | Girish Kasaravalli | Ghatashraddha | |
| 1976-77 | P. Lankesh | Pallavi | |
| 1975-76 | B. V. Karanth | Chomana Dudi | |
| 1974-75 | Puttanna Kanagal | Upasane | |
| 1973-74 | Siddalingaiah | Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu | |
| 1972-73 | P. V. Nanjaraja Urs | Sankalpa | |
| 1971-72 | Girish Karnad | Vamsha Vriksha | |
| 1971-72 | B. V. Karanth | Vamsha Vriksha | - |
| 1970-71 | Puttanna Kanagal | Sharapanjara | |
| 1969-70 | Puttanna Kanagal | Gejje Pooje | |
| 1968-69 | M. R. Vittal | Hannele Chiguridaga | |
| 1967-68 | Puttanna Kanagal | Belli Moda |