| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:40%;"
! Year | Director | Film | Ref |
| 1972 | rowspan="3" | K. S. Sethumadhavan | Punarjanmam | [{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8cUQAQAAMAAJ&q=k.s.sethumadhavan |title = The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who|year = 1973}}] |
| 1973 | Pani Theeratha Veedu | [{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/21st-annual-filmfare-south-winners | title=21st Annual Filmfare South Winners | date=6 August 2024 }}][{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LAcfAQAAMAAJ&q=K.S.Sethumadhavan+ |title = The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who|last1 = Reed|first1 = Sir Stanley|year = 1974}}] |
| 1974 | Chattakari | [{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NhG2AAAAIAAJ&q=K.+S.Sethumadhavan+++Chattakkari |title = The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who|last1 = Reed|first1 = Sir Stanley|year = 1976}}] |
| 1975 | Bharathan | Prayanam | [{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vmLVAAAAMAAJ&q=Bharatan+prayanam | title=The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who| year=1978| last1=Reed| first1=Sir Stanley}}] |
| 1976 | Sreekumaran Thampi | Mohiniyattom | [{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W4XiAAAAMAAJ&q=P.+Sukumaran |title = The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who|year = 1980}}] |
| 1977 | rowspan="2" | I. V. Sasi | Itha Ivide Vare | [{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w8kQAQAAMAAJ&q=I.+V.+Sasi+Itha++Varu |title = The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who|year = 1979}}] |
| 1978 | Yaetta | [{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W4XiAAAAMAAJ&q=I.+V.+Sasi+Yeeta | title=The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who| year=1980}}] |
| 1979 | rowspan="2" | Bharathan | Thakara | [{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N6kQAQAAMAAJ&q=Bharatan+Thakara | title=The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who| year=1982}}] |
| 1980 | Chamaram | [{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N6kQAQAAMAAJ&q=Bharatan+chamaram |title = The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who|year = 1982}}] |
| 1981 | K. S. Sethumadhavan | Oppol | [{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o4biAAAAMAAJ&q=+Sethu+Oppol |title = The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who|year = 1983}}] |
| 1982 | Balu Mahendra | Olangal | [{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xU3jAAAAMAAJ&q=Balu+Mahendra+Olangal |title = The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who|last1 = Reed|first1 = Sir Stanley|year = 1984}}] |
| 1983 | Balachandra Menon | Karyam Nissaram | |
| 1984 | Bharathan | Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove | |
| 1985 | Balu Mahendra | Yathra | [https://archive.org/download/33rd-filmfare-awards-south/IMG_20240315_084234.jpg {{Bare URL image|date=August 2024}}][{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/33rd-annual-filmfare-awards-south | title=33rd Annual Filmfare Awards South | date=17 November 2023 }}][https://archive.org/download/BaluMahendraPreviousFilmfareAwards/balu%20mahendra%20previous%20filmfare%20awards.jpg {{Bare URL image|date=March 2022}}] |
| 1986 | Hariharan | Panchagni | [https://archive.org/download/34th-filmfare-south-winners/34th%20Filmfare%20South%20winners.jpg {{Bare URL image|date=March 2022}}] |
| 1987 | Pratap Pothan | Rithubhedam | [{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/35thFilmfareAwardsSouthWinners1|title = 35th Filmfare Awards South Winners[ 1]|date = 4 February 2017}}] |
| 1988 | Padmarajan | Aparan | [36th Filmfare Awards South] |
| 1989 | Shaji N Karun | Piravi | [{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/37th-annual-filmfare-awards-south-best-director-winners | title=37th Annual Filmfare Awards South Best Director Winners | date=31 July 2024 }}][{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/37th_annual_-filmfare_-awards_south_winners | title=37th Annual Filmfare Awards South winners | date=22 April 2022 }}] |
| 1990 | Bhadran | Iyer The Great | [http:// Refer Filmfare Magazine August 1991, 38th filmfare awards south] |
| 1991 | rowspan="2" | Sibi Malayil | Bharatham | [{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/39thAnnualFilmfareMalayalamBestActorDirectorMusic|title = 39th Annual Filmfare Malayalam Best Actor Director Music|date = 8 February 2017}}] |
| 1992 | Sadayam | [https://archive.org/download/40thFilmfareSouthBestActorActress/40th%20Filmfare%20South%20Best%20Actor%20Actress.jpg {{Bare URL image|date=March 2022}}] |
| 1993 | Shaji Kailas | Ekalavyan | [https://archive.org/download/41stAnnualFilmfareMalayalamBestDirectorMusicFilm/41st%20annual%20filmfare%20malayalam%20best%20director%20music%20film.jpg {{Bare URL image|date=March 2022}}] |
| 1994 | Hariharan | Parinayam | [{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/42nd-annual-filmfare-awards-south-telugu-malayalam-winners | title=42nd Annual Filmfare Awards South Telugu & Malayalam Winners | date=5 August 2024 }}] |
| 1995 | Bhadran | Spadikam | [{{cite web |url=http://www.filmfare.com/site/nov96/faward.htm |title=Filmfare Awards |website=www.filmfare.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991010171143/http://www.filmfare.com/site/nov96/faward.htm |archive-date=10 October 1999 |url-status=dead}}] |
| 1996 | Sathyan Anthikad | Thooval Kottaram | [{{cite web |url=http://filmfare.com/site/october97/south3c.htm |title=Filmfare – South Special |website=filmfare.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991013111210/http://filmfare.com/site/october97/south3c.htm |archive-date=13 October 1999 |url-status=dead}}] |
| 1997 | Jayaraj | Kaliyattam | [{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/45thFilmfareSouthBestDirectorAwards|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170205072547/https://archive.org/details/45thFilmfareSouthBestDirectorAwards|url-status=dead|title=45th Filmfare South Best Director Awards|date=4 February 2017|via=Internet Archive|archive-date=5 February 2017|access-date=11 September 2019}}] |
| 1998 | Sreenivasan | Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala | [https://archive.org/download/46thFilmfareAwardsSouthWinners/46th%20Filmfare%20Awards%20south%20winners.jpg {{Bare URL image|date=March 2022}}] |
| 1999 | Shyamaprasad | Agnisakshi | [{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/04/15/stories/09150651.htm |title=The Hindu : Star-spangled show on cards |access-date=20 October 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060715231701/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/04/15/stories/09150651.htm |archive-date=15 July 2006 }}] |
| 2000 | Jayaraj | Karunam | [{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Vishnuvardhan-Sudharani-win-Filmfare-awards-/articleshow/35261957.cms | work=The Times Of India | title=Vishnuvardhan, Sudharani win Filmfare awards – The Times of India}}] |
| 2001 | Vinayan | Karumadikuttan | [{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Nuvvu-Nenu-wins-4-Filmfare-awards/articleshow/6011249.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921025343/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-04-06/hyderabad/27122602_1_filmfare-film-award-actor-award | url-status=live | archive-date=21 September 2012 | work=The Times of India | title=Nuvvu Nenu wins 4 Filmfare awards | date=6 April 2002}}] |
| 2002 | Lal Jose | Meesa Madhavan | [{{cite web |url=http://portal.bsnl.in/intranetnews.asp?url%3D%2Fbsnl%2Fasp%2Fcontent+mgmt%2Fhtml+content%2Fentertainment%2Fentertainment14489.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=19 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721152719/http://portal.bsnl.in/intranetnews.asp?url=%2Fbsnl%2Fasp%2Fcontent%20mgmt%2Fhtml%20content%2Fentertainment%2Fentertainment14489.html |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}] |
| 2003 | Sathyan Anthikkad | Manassinakkare | [{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/51st-Annual-Manikchand-Filmfare-Award-winners/articleshow/718496.cms|title = 51st Annual Manikchand Filmfare Award winners – Times of India|website = The Times of India| date=4 June 2004 }}] |
| 2004 | rowspan="2" | Blessy | Kaazhcha | [{{Cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions/filmfareawards2005.html|title=Filmfare awards for South India – Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam & Kannada – Telugu Cinema|website=www.idlebrain.com}}] |
| 2005 | Thanmatra | [{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/gallery/Events/10441.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118182553/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/gallery/Events/10441.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 November 2006|title = Malayalam Cinema News | Malayalam Movie Reviews | Malayalam Movie Trailers – IndiaGlitz Malayalam}}] |
| 2006 | Roshan Andrews | Notebook | [{{Cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions/filmfareswards2007.html|title=54th Fair One Filmfare Awards 2006 – Telugu cinema function|website=www.idlebrain.com}}] |
| 2007 | Babu Thiruvalla | Thaniye | [{{cite web |url=http://bollyspice.com/view.php/1411-happy-days-at-the-55th-tiger-balm-filmfare-south-awards.html |title='Happy Days' at the 55th Tiger Balm Filmfare South Awards » Bollywood Spice |access-date=2011-02-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614085233/http://www.bollyspice.com/view.php/1411-happy-days-at-the-55th-tiger-balm-filmfare-south-awards.html |archive-date=2009-06-14 }}] |
| 2008 | Ranjith | Thirakkatha | [{{cite web |url=http://bollyspice.com/view.php/3173-a-sparkling-triumph-8211-the-56th-filmfare-south-awards.html |title=A Sparkling Triumph -The 56th Filmfare South Awards » Bollywood Spice |access-date=2011-02-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110092435/http://www.bollyspice.com/view.php/3173-a-sparkling-triumph-8211-the-56th-filmfare-south-awards.html |archive-date=2010-01-10 }}] |
| 2009 | Hariharan | Pazhassi Raja | [{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Filmfare-Awards-winners/articleshow/6280143.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811095903/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-08-09/news-interviews/28320515_1_filmfare-awards-winners-prakash-raj-k-j-yesudas | url-status=live | archive-date=11 August 2011 | work=The Times of India | title=Filmfare Awards winners | date=9 August 2010}}] |
| 2010 | Ranjith | Pranchiyettan & the Saint | [{{cite web|url=http://www.8pmnews.com/news/headlines/58th-idea-filmfare-awards-south-2011-winners |title=58th Idea Filmfare Awards South 2011 Winners | 8PM News |access-date=2012-02-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110160453/http://www.8pmnews.com/news/headlines/58th-idea-filmfare-awards-south-2011-winners |archive-date=2014-01-10 }}] |
| 2011 | Blessy | Pranayam | [{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/59th-idea-filmfare-awards-south-winners-list-809.html|title=59th Idea Filmfare Awards South (Winners list)|website=filmfare.com}}] |
| 2012 | Lal Jose | Ayalum Njanum Thammil | [{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/list-of-winners-at-the-60th-idea-filmfare-awards-south-3745.html|title=List of Winners at the 60th Idea Filmfare Awards (South)|website=filmfare.com}}] |
| 2013 | Shyamaprasad | Artist | [{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/winners-of-61st-idea-filmfare-awards-south-6712.html|title=Winners of 61st Idea Filmfare Awards South|website=filmfare.com}}] |
| 2014 | Anjali Menon | Bangalore Days | [{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/winners-of-62nd-britannia-filmfare-awards-south-9643.html|title=Winners of 62nd Britannia Filmfare Awards South|website=filmfare.com}}] |
| 2015 | R. S. Vimal | Ennu Ninte Moideen | [{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/winners-of-the-63rd-britannia-filmfare-awards-south-13996.html|title=Winners of the 63rd Britannia Filmfare Awards (South)|website=filmfare.com}}] |
| 2016 | rowspan="2" | Dileesh Pothan | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | [{{cite web | url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/winners-of-the-64th-jio-filmfare-awards-south-21594.html | title=Winners of the 64th Jio Filmfare Awards (South) | date=17 June 2017 | work=Filmfare | access-date=9 December 2018 }}] |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | [{{cite web | url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/winners-of-the-65th-jio-filmfare-awards-south-2018_-28887-2.html | title=Winners of the 65th Jio Filmfare Awards (South) 2018 | date=16 June 2018 | work=Filmfare | access-date=9 December 2018 }}] |
| 2018 | Lijo Jose Pellissery | Ee.Ma.Yau | |
| 2021–2022 | Senna Hegde | Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam | [{{cite web | url= https://www.filmfare.com/features/winners-for-the-67th-parle-filmfare-awards-south-2022-with-kamar-film-factory-55592.html | title=Winners of the 67th Parle Filmfare Awards (South) 2022 |website=filmfare.com }}] |
| 2023 | Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval | Nna Thaan Case Kodu | |
| 2024 | Jude Anthany Joseph | 2018 | style="text-align:center;"|[{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/filmfare-awards-south-2024-full-winners-list-nanis-dasara-siddharths-chithha-win-big-101722757273293.html |title=Filmfare Awards South 2024 full winners list: Nani's Dasara, Siddharth's Chithha win big |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=7 August 2024}}] |