Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

We have requested Mrs. Nagpal _______ our play for this year’s annual function.

to direct

The correct option to fill in the blank is to direct.

The sentence is about the speaker requesting Mrs. Nagpal to direct their play for this year's annual function. The word "to direct" is the infinitive form of the verb "direct", which means to guide or manage the course of something. In this context, the speaker is asking Mrs. Nagpal to guide or manage the course of their play.

The other options are not as appropriate.

• Directed is the past tense of the verb "direct". This is not the most appropriate option because the speaker is not asking Mrs. Nagpal to direct their play in the past, they are asking her to direct it in the future.
• Direct is the simple present tense of the verb "direct". This is not the most appropriate option because it does not express the speaker's request to Mrs. Nagpal.
• Directing is the present participle of the verb "direct". This is not the most appropriate option because it does not express the speaker's request to Mrs. Nagpal.