No. 1" director in India, as the field of filmmaking is highly subjective and opinions vary widely among audiences and critics. India boasts a vast and diverse film industry, producing movies in multiple languages, each with its own set of celebrated directors. Below are 50 influential Indian directors, along with short descriptions of their contributions to cinema:

1. Satyajit Ray - Pioneer of Indian cinema, known for masterpieces like the Apu Trilogy and "Pather Panchali."

2. Mani Ratnam - Renowned for his unique storytelling, innovative visuals, and socially relevant themes in films like "Roja" and "Dil Se."

3. Adoor Gopalakrishnan - Acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker, known for realistic films with societal themes.

4. Rajkumar Hirani - Bollywood director known for blockbuster hits with social messages like "Munna Bhai MBBS" and "3 Idiots."

5. S.S. Rajamouli - Gained international fame with the epic "Baahubali" film series.

6. Anurag Kashyap - Known for edgy storytelling in films like "Gangs of Wasseypur" and "Dev.D."

7. Sanjay Leela Bhansali - Renowned for visually stunning films like "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" and "Devdas."

8. A.R. Murugadoss - Popular director of Tamil and Hindi films known for action-packed thrillers.

9. Bala - Noted Tamil director, acclaimed for his realistic and hard-hitting narratives.

10. Nitesh Tiwari - Directed the blockbuster "Dangal," inspired by the life of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat.

11. Vetrimaaran - Known for critically acclaimed Tamil films like "Aadukalam" and "Visaaranai."

12. Shoojit Sircar - Director of thought-provoking films like "Vicky Donor" and "Piku."

13. Gautham Menon - Known for his romantic films like "Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa" and "Ye Maaya Chesave."

14. Shankar - Director of grandiose films with social messages, such as "Enthiran" and "Sivaji."

15. Zoya Akhtar - Noted for her urban, contemporary narratives in films like "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" and "Gully Boy."

16. Nandita Das - Acclaimed for directing impactful films like "Firaaq" and "Manto."

17. Vishal Bhardwaj - Known for his Shakespearean adaptations like "Maqbool" and "Omkara."

18. Ram Gopal Varma - Renowned for his path-breaking films like "Satya" and "Rangeela."

19. Sujoy Ghosh - Director of gripping thrillers like "Kahaani" and "Badla."

20. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra - Directed the acclaimed "Rang De Basanti" and "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag."

21. Nagraj Manjule - Noted for the heart-wrenching Marathi film "Sairat."

22. Mahesh Bhatt - Known for thought-provoking films like "Arth" and "Zakhm."

23. Aparna Sen - Acclaimed for her sensitive storytelling in films like "36 Chowringhee Lane" and "Mr. and Mrs. Iyer."

24. Lijo Jose Pellissery - Director of critically acclaimed Malayalam films like "Angamaly Diaries" and "Ee.Ma.Yau."

25. Ashutosh Gowariker - Directed epic historical films like "Lagaan" and "Jodhaa Akbar."

26. Madhur Bhandarkar - Known for realistic portrayals of various facets of society in films like "Chandni Bar" and "Fashion."

27. Shyam Benegal - Pioneer of the parallel cinema movement, known for films like "Ankur" and "Bhumika."

28. Anubhav Sinha - Directed socially relevant films like "Article 15" and "Thappad."

29. Prakash Jha - Acclaimed for his socio-political dramas like "Gangaajal" and "Raajneeti."

30. Aamir Khan - Actor-director known for socially relevant films like "Taare Zameen Par" and "PK."

31. Farhan Akhtar - Renowned for his directorial debut with "Dil Chahta Hai" and "Don."

32. Rahul Dholakia - Director of "Parzania" and "Raees."

33. R Balki - Known for unique storytelling in films like "Cheeni Kum" and "Paa."

34. Vetri Maaran - Notable for his work in Tamil cinema, including films like "Kaaka Muttai" and "Asuran."

35. K. Balachander - Veteran director known for introducing new talent to Indian cinema and helming classics like "Apoorva Raagangal" and "Ek Duuje Ke Liye."

36. Abhishek Chaubey - Directed films like "Ishqiya" and "Udta Punjab."

37. Sooraj Barjatya - Known for his family-centric, feel-good films like "Maine Pyar Kiya" and "Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!"

38. Vikramaditya Motwane - Directed critically acclaimed films like "Udaan" and "Lootera."

39. Imtiaz Ali - Known for his romantic films like "Jab We Met" and "Rockstar."

40. Manmohan Desai - Renowned for blockbuster masala films like "Amar Akbar Anthony" and "Coolie."

41. Rohit Shetty - Director of high-octane action comedies like the "Golmaal" series and "Chennai Express."

42. Anand L. Rai - Noted for films like "Raanjhanaa" and "Tanu Weds Manu."

43. Anees Bazmee - Known for directing comedy blockbusters like "No Entry" and "Welcome."

44. Kabir Khan - Directed films with a patriotic theme, such as "Ek Tha Tiger" and "Bajrangi Bhaijaan."

45. Neeraj Pandey - Renowned for his gripping thrillers like "A Wednesday!" and "Special 26."

46. Anant Mahadevan - Acclaimed for directing films like "Mee Sindhutai Sapkal" and "Gour Hari Dastaan."

47. K. Vishwanath - Veteran Telugu director known for his artistic and meaningful films like "Sagara Sangamam" and "Swathi Muthyam."

48. Hansal Mehta - Noted for directing hard-hitting films like "Shahid" and "Aligarh."

49. Priyadarshan - Directed numerous successful comedies like "Hera Pheri" and "Bhool Bhulaiyaa."

50. Ramesh Sippy - Famous for the iconic Bollywood film "Sholay."

It's important to remember that this list is not exhaustive, and there are many other talented directors in India who have contributed significantly to the film industry. Furthermore, opinions on who holds the title of "No. 1 director" can vary based on personal preferences, critical acclaim, and commercial success. To find the most current information and rankings, I recommend checking recent accolades, box office successes, and industry reports.