| Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Director | |
| Awarded For: | Award for excellence in direction |
| Sponsor: | Government of Maharashtra |
| Firstawarded: | 1969 |
| Lastawarded: | 2022 |
| Holder Label: | Most recent winner |
| Holder: | Ajit Wadikar (Y) |
| Award1 Type: | Total awarded |
| Award1 Winner: | 56 |
| Award2 Type: | First winner |
| Award2 Winner: | Madhukar Pathak (Prapanch) |
| Award3 Type: | Last winner |
The Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Director is an honour presented annually at the Maharashtra State Film Awards of India since 1962. It is given to a film director who has exhibited outstanding direction while working in the Marathi cinema. The recipients are decided by an independent jury formed by the Government. They are declared by the Minister for Cultural Affairs and are presented by the Chief Minister.
| Year | Director I | Director II | Director III | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Madhukar Pathak (Prapanch) | Raja Paranjape (Suvasini) | Anant Mane (Shahir Parshuram) | ||
| 1963 | Raja Thakur (Rangalya Ratri Asha) | Raja Paranjape (Haa Maza Marg Ekla) | Chandrashekhar (Phakira) | ||
| 1964 | Ram Gabale (Chhota Jawan) | Raja Thakur (Pahu Re Kiti Vaat) | Madhu Shinde (Thoratanchi Kamala) | ||
| Raja Paranjape (Pathlaag) | |||||
| 1965 | Shantaram Athavale (Vavtal) | Anant Mane (Sawaal Majha Aika!) | |||
| 1966 | Bhalji Pendharkar (Sadhi Mansa) | Anant Mane (Kela Ishara Jata Jata) | Vasant Joglekar (Shevatcha Malusara) | ||
| 1967 | Madhukar Pathak (Santh Wahate Krushnamai) | Raja Paranjape (Kaka Mala Vachva) | Chandrawadan (Swapna Tech Lochani) | ||
| 1968 | Rajdutt (Gharchi Rani) | Kamlakar Torne (Aamhi Jato Amuchya Gava) | Raja Thakur (Ekti) | ||
| 1969 | Rajdutt (Apradh) | Madhukar Pathak (Mukkam Post Dhebewadi) | Madhav Shinde (Dharmakanya) | ||
| 1970 | Raja Thakur (Mumbaicha Jawai) | Vasant Painter (Warnecha Wagh) | Madhav Shinde (Laxmanresha) | ||
| 1971 | Raja Thakur (Gharkul) | Satyadev Dubey (Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe) | Govind Kulkarni (Songadya) | ||
| 1972 | Raja Thakur (Jawai Vikat Ghene Aahe) | Rajdutt (Bholibhabdi) | Dada Kondke (Andhla Marto Dola) | ||
| 1973 | No award | ||||
| 1974 | Vasant Painter (Sugandhi Katta) | Datta Mane (Kartiki) | Murlidhar Kapadi (Ashi Hi Sataryadi) | ||
| 1975 | Dada Kondke (Pandu Havaldar) | Jabbar Patel (Samna) | Dattatray Kulkarni (Bayanno Navre Sambhala) | ||
| 1976 | Babasaheb Fattelal (Choricha Mamla) | Dada Kondke (Tumcha Amcha Jamla) | Anant Mane (Pahuni) | ||
| 1977 | V. Ravindra (Farari) | Kamlakar Torne (Bala Gau Kashi Angai) | Murlidhar Kapadi (Naav Motha Lakshan Khota) | ||
| 1978 | Rajdutt (Devak Nandan Gopala) | Kamlakar Torne (Bhairu Pehelwan Ki Jai) | Jabbar Patel (Jait Re Jait) | ||
| 1979 | Vasant Joglekar (Janaki) | Rajdutt (Ashtavinayak) | Dada Kondke (Bot Lavin Titha Gudgulya) | ||
| 1980 | Nachiket Patwardhan (22 June 1897) | Jabbar Patel (Sinhasan) | Babasaheb Phattelal (Paij) | ||
| 1981 | Jabbar Patel (Umbartha) | V.K. Naik (Gondhalat Gondhal) | Amol Palekar (Akrit) | ||
| 1982 | Rajdutt & Arvind Deshpande (Shapit) | Ravi Namade (Ek Daav Bhutacha) | Dada Kondke (Aali Angawar) | ||
| 1983 | Rajdutt (Raghu Maina) | V.K. Naik (Gupchup Gupchup) | Kamlakar Torne (Thorli Jau) | ||
| 1984 | Rajdutt (Hech Maze Maher) | Rajdutt (Mumbaicha Faujdar) | Satish Randive (Bahurupi) | ||
| 1985 | Rajdutt (Ardhangi) | Bhaskar Jadhav (Deva Shappath Khara Sangen) | Babasaheb Phattelal (Stridhan) | ||
| 1986 | Rajdutt (Pudhcha Paaul) | Damu Kenkre (Tuzya Vachun Karmena) | Rajdutt (Aaj Zale Mukta Me) | ||
| 1987 | Girish Ghanekar (Prem Karuya Khullam Khulla) | Sachin (Gammat Jammat) | N. S. Vaidya (Khatyal Sasu Nathal Soon) | ||
| 1988 | Sachin (Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi) | N. S. Vaidya (Nashibwan) | Girish Ghanekar (Rangat Sangat) | ||
| 1989 | Kanchan Nayak (Kalat Nakalat) | Sachin (Atmavishwas) | Purushottam Berde (Hamaal De Dhamaal) | ||
| 1990 | Ramakant Kavthekar (Aaghat) | Sachin (Eka Peksha Ek) | N. S. Vaidya (Kuldeepak) | ||
| 1991 | Sanjay Surkar (Chaukat Raja) | Pradip Berlekar (Vedh) | Sanjiv Naik (Anapekshit) | [1] | |
| 1992 | Jabbar Patel (Ek Hota Vidushak) | Sanjay Surkar (Apli Mansa) | Girish Ghanekar (Vaajva Re Vaajva) | [2] | |
| 1993 | Sanjay Rawal (Vazir) | Smita Talwalkar (Savat Mazi Ladki) | Shrabani Deodhar (Lapandav) | ||
| 1994 | Jabbar Patel (Mukta) | Madhukar Pathak (Varsa Laxmicha) | Mahesh Kothare (Majha Chakula) | ||
| 1995 | Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar (Doghi) | Amol Palekar (Bangarwadi) | Amol Shedge (Aboli) | [3] | |
| 1996 | Sanjay Surkar (Raosaheb) | Bhaskar Jadhav (Putravati) | K. Radhaswami (Suna Yeti Ghara) | ||
| 1997 | J.K Patil (Paij Lagnachi) | Shrabani Deodhar (Sarkarnama) | Girish Ghanekar (Navsacha Por) | ||
| 1998 | Sanjay Surkar (Tu Tithe Mee) | Ajay Phansekar (Ratra Aarambh) | Subhash Phadke (Hasari) | ||
| 1999 | Rajeev Khandagale (Gabhara) | Chandrakant Kulkarni (Bindhaast) | Sanjay Surkar (Gharabaher) | ||
| 2000 | Amol Palekar (Dhyaas Parva) | Mahesh Manjrekar (Astitva) | Satish Rajwade (Mrugjal) | ||
| 2001 | Millind Ukley (Devki) | Ajay Phansekar (Ek Hoti Vadi) | Rajdutt (Zanzavat) | ||
| 2002 | Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar (Dahavi Fa) | Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar(Vastupurush) | Chandrakant Kulkarni (Bhet) | ||
| 2003 | Sandeep Sawant (Shwaas) | Gajendra Ahire (Not Only Mrs. Raut) | Gajendra Ahire (Vitthal Vitthal) | [4] | |
| 2004 | Bipin Nadkarni (Uttarayan) | Rajiv Patil (Savarkhed Ek Gaon) | Sanjay Surkar (Saatchya Aat Gharat) | ||
| 2005 | Nishikant Kamat (Dombivli Fast) | Chandrakant Kulkarni (Kaydyacha Bola) | Mahesh Kothare (Khabardar) | ||
| 2006 | Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar (Nital) | Sachin Kundalkar (Restaurant) | Rajendra Talik (Savali) | ||
| 2007 | Mangesh Hadawale (Tingya) | Bipin Nadkarni (Aevdhese Aabhal) | Sanjay Jadhav (Checkmate) | ||
| 2008 | Paresh Mokashi (Harishchandrachi Factory) | Rajiv Patil (Jogwa) | Rajendra Patil (Dhudgus) | [5] | |
| 2009 | Santosh Manjrekar (Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy) | Nitin Nandan (Jhing Chik Jhing) | Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar (Ek Cup Chya) | ||
| 2010 | Anant Mahadevan (Mee Sindhutai Sapkal) | Amol Palekar (Dhoosar) | Veena Lokur (Platform) | ||
| 2011 | Sujay Dahake (Shala) | Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni (Deool) | Kiran Yadnopavit (Taryanche Bait) | ||
| Ravi Jadhav (Balgandharva) | |||||
| 2012 | Mahesh Manjrekar (Kaksparsh) | Chandrakant Kulkarni (Tukaram) | Nitin Chandrakant Desai (Ajintha) | [6] | |
| 2013 | Nitin Dixit (Avatarachi Goshta) | Nitish Bharadwaj (Pitruroon) | Shantanu Rode (Jayjaykar) | ||
| 2014 | Shrihari Sathe (Ek Hazarachi Note) | Paresh Mokashi (Elizabeth Ekadashi) | Om Raut () | ||
| 2015 | Makarand Mane (Ringan) | Sameer Vidwans (Double Seat) | Chandrakant Kanse (Dagadi Chawl) | ||
| 2016 | Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar (Kaasav) | Sandeep Patil (Dashakriya) | Rajesh Mapuskar (Ventilator) | ||
| 2017 | Sagar Vanjari (Redu) | Varun Narvekar (Muramba) | Manoj Kadam (Kshitij Ek Horayzan) | ||
| 2018 | Shivaji Lotan Patil (Bhonga) | Milind Lele (Bandishala) | Sachin Jadhav, Nachiket Waikar (Tendlya) | ||
| 2024 | Ajit Wadikar (Y) | Sameer Joshi (Miss U Mister) | Vikram Phadnis (Smile Please) | ||