| Year | Winner | Film | Language |
| 2010 | Arghyakamal Mitra | Abohoman | Bengali |
| 2009 | A. Sreekar Prasad | Firaaq | Hindi |
| 2008 | B. Ajith Kumar[1] | Naalu Pennungal | Malayalam |
| 2007 | Raja Mohamed | Paruthi Veeran | Tamil |
| 2006 | P.S Bharati | Rang De Basanti | Hindi |
| 2005 | Suresh Pai | Page 3 | Hindi |
| 2004 | Aarif Sheikh | Samay | Hindi |
| 2003 | A. Sreekar Prasad | Kannathil Muthamittal | Tamil |
| 2002 | Beena Paul | Mitr - My Friend | English |
| 2001 | Suresh Pai, Apurva Asrani | Snip! | English |
| 2000 | A. Sreekar Prasad, Joseph Guinvarch | Vaanaprastham | Malayalam |
| 1999 | Renu Saluja | Godmother | Hindi |
| 1998 | A. Sreekar Prasad | The Terrorist | Tamil |
| 1997 | A. Sreekar Prasad | Rag Birag | Assamese |
| 1996 | Suresh Urs | Bombay | Tamil |
| 1995 | B. Lenin, V. T. Vijayan | Kadhalan | Tamil |
| 1994 | Renu Saluja | Sardar | Hindi |
| 1993 | M.S. Mony | Sargam | Malayalam |
| 1992 | Renu Saluja | Dharavi | Hindi |
| 1991 | M.S. Mony | Iyer The Great | Malayalam |
| 1990 | Renu Saluja | Parinda | Hindi |
| 1989 | A. Sreekar Prasad | Raakh | Hindi |
| 1988 | P. Mohan Raj | Vedham Puthithu | Tamil |
| 1987 | Sanjeev Shah | Mirch Masala | Hindi |
| 1986 | Babu Sheikh | Hum Naujawan | Hindi |
| 1985 | Anil Malnad | Sitaara | Telugu |
| 1984 | Mrinmoy Chakraborty | Khandahar | Hindi |
| 1983 | Keshav Hirani | Arth | Hindi |
| 1982 | Bhanudas Divakar | Arohan | Hindi |
| 1981 | Gangadhar Naskar | Akaler Sandhane | Bengali |
| 1980 | Gangadhar Naskar | Ek Din Pratidin | Bengali |
| 1979 | Gangadhar Naskar | Parashuram | Bengali |
| 1978 | Waman Bhonsle, Gurudutt Shirali | Inkaar | Hindi |
| 1977 | K. Babu Rao | Siri Siri Muvva | Telugu |