Girish Kasaravalli (born 1949) is a noted film director, and one of the pioneers of the Parallel Cinema in Kannada cinema , who was the won National Film Award for Best Film four times, Ghatashraddha (1977), Tabarana Kathe (1986), Thaayi Saheba (1997) and Dweepa (2001).A gold medalist from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Girish Kasaravalli started his career in films with Ghatashraddha (1977), over the next 30 years he directed eleven films and a tele serial.The Film he made to fulfill his Diploma "AVASHESH" was awarded the best Student Film. Avashesh also Won the President's Silver Lotus award for the best Short Film of that year.