Award winners
The following is a partial list of award winners and the name of the films for which they won.
| Year | Image | Winner | Role | Film | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 |  | Tabla Nani | Kariappa | Chemistry of Kariappa | [1] |
| 2018 | – | Balaji Manohar | Seena | Churikatte | [2] |
| 2017 | – | Manjunath Hegde | Narayana | Lakshmi Narayanara Prapanchane Bere | [3] |
| 2016 | – | Naveen D. Padil | Kudla Cafe (Tulu Movie) | [4] | |
| 2015 | – | Ramesh Bhat | Mana Manthana | [5] | |
| 2014 | – | Arun Devasia | Nayakanahatti Sri Thipperudraswami Mahathme | [6] | |
| 2013 | – | Sharath Lohitashwa | Rajegowda | Matthe Satyagraha | [7] |
| 2012 | – | Kari Subbu | Kalavu | [8] | |
| 2011 | – | Shridhar | Maadayya | Kamsale Kaisale | [9] |
| 2010-11 | – | Achyuth Kumar | Kodanda | Hejjegalu | [10] |
| 2009-10 | – | Neenasam Ashwath | Yellappa | Banni | [11] |
| 2008-09 | – | M. K. Mata Uppinangadi | Gaggara(Tulu Movie) | [12] | |
| 2007-08 | – | Rajesh Nataranga | Raghavendra | Moggina Jade | [13] |
| 2006-07 |  | Rangayana Raghu | Sathyanna | Duniya | [14] |
| 2005-06 | – | Jaggesh | Venkatesh / Upakathe Govindu | Mata | [15] |
| 2004-05 |  | Kishore | Shabbir | Rakshasa | [16] |
| 2003-04 | | Rangayana Raghu | Chaami | Mani | [17] |
| 2002-03 |  | Komal Kumar | Nandeesha | Thavarige Baa Thangi | [18] |
| 2001-02 | – | Keremane Shambhu Hegde | Seetharama Shastry | Parva | [19] |
| 2000-01 |  | Avinash | Puttathammayya | Mathadana | [20] |
| 1999-2000 | – | Srinivasa Murthy | Ramachandra Rao | Shrirasthu Shubhamasthu | [20] |
| 1998-89 | – | Doddanna | Peter Breganzha | Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi | |
| 1997-98 | – | S. Shivaram | Venkob Rao | Thaayi Saheba | [21] |
| 1996-97 |  | Mandya Ramesh | Kappanna | Nagamandala | |
| 1995-96 |  | Girish Karnad | Hanagal Kumaraswamiji | Sangeetha Sagara Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai | |
| 1994-95 | – | Karibasavaiah | Dibba | Kotreshi Kanasu | |
| 1993-94 | – | Krishne Gowda | Narasimhayya | Karimaleya Kaggatthalu | |
| 1992-93 | – | H. G. Somashekara Rao | Rudrappa | Harakeya Kuri | |
| 1991-92 | – | Udaya Maheshwar | Pathitha Pavani | ||
| 1990-91 | – | K. S. Ashwath | Belliyappa | Muthina Haara | [22] |
| 1989-90 | | Girish Karnad | Guru Govinda Bhatta | Santha Shishunala Sharifa | |
| 1988-89 | – | Mysore Lokesh | Prajegalu Prabhugalu | ||
| 1987-88 |  | H. G. Dattatreya | Srinivasayya | Aasphota | |
| 1986-87 | Devaraj | Chandru | Aaganthuka | ||
| 1985-86 |  | Ambareesh | Singaru | Masanada Hoovu | |
| 1984-85 | – | Shyamsundar | Avala Antharanga | ||
| 1983-84 | – | Aravind | Manjayya Seregara | Anubhava | |
| 1982-83 | – | Vajramuni | Betthale Seve | ||
| 1981-82 | – | Srinivasa Murthy | Naari Swargakke Daari | ||
| 1980-81 |  | Ramakrishna | Shekhar | Ranganayaki | |
| 1979-80 | – | Lokanath | Prabhakar Rao / Thaatha | Minchina Ota | |
| 1978-79 | – | Sundar Krishna Urs | Peramadi | Ondanondu Kaladalli | |
| 1977-78 | – | Udaykumar | Ramanna Perumal | Hemavathi | |
| 1976-77 | – | N. Rathna | Gowda | Rishya Shringa | |
| 1975-76 | – | Master Umesh | Thimmarayi | Katha Sangama | |
| 1974-75 | – | H. B. Yajaman | Kankana | ||
| 1973-74 | – | Ranga | Kumar | Edakallu Guddada Mele | |
| 1972-73 | – | K. S. Ashwath | Chamayya | Naagarahaavu | |
| 1971-72 |  | T. N. Balakrishna | Rachutappa | Bangarada Manushya | |
| 1970-71 | – | B. R. Jayaram | Samskara | ||
| 1969-70 | – | Ranga | Honna | Punarjanma | |
| 1968-69 | – | K. S. Ashwath | Srinivasayya | Namma Makkalu | |
| 1967-68 | – | Udaykumar | Kashipathayya | Chakra Theertha | |