Growing up surrounded by literature, art, and culture, Kavitha Lankesh found inspiration close to home when it came time to direct her first feature film, Deveeri. Discussing her plans with her father, the late Kannada literary figure P Lankesh, she mentioned his novella, Akka. Intrigued by the story, she took on the task of writing the script herself when she realized it was taking on a more literary rather than cinematic tone.

Kavitha also highlights the exceptional work of art director Shashidhar Adapa, whose meticulously crafted set so closely resembled a real slum that it went unnoticed by award committees. Shot in Siddapura, Bengaluru for exterior scenes and on Shashidhar's set for interior scenes, the film was produced on a modest budget of ₹32 lakh.

After completing Deveeri, Kavitha invited her father to watch it, only to receive a playful critique from him. Unfortunately, he passed away before the film was released.Despite receiving financial support from three friends, she still values the two pages her father initially wrote. Kavitha recalls approaching Nandita Das for a role in her film "Deveeri," set in a slum. While Nandita was already renowned as an elite actor, Kavitha felt she was the perfect fit to embody the character. Despite Nandita's reputation for selective art films, she graciously accepted the role and portrayed it with grace. Looking back, Kavitha reflects on the innocence of making her first film and cherishes the memories as a testament to progress over the years.

Manjunath, who played the role of Kyaatha, her younger brother in the film, resided in Bosco House for orphaned children at the time. Initially doubtful of Nandita's ability due to her lack of proficiency in Kannada, Manjunath was pleasantly surprised when she portrayed the role convincingly.

A cherished memory for Kavitha is her father's reaction to the film upon completion. Despite his initial joking criticism, he later acknowledged the film in an article, stating that "Deveeri is a film that would make anyone envious." This praise meant a lot to Kavitha, especially since her father passed away before the film's release.

Kavitha and Nandita have remained close friends, with Nandita sharing a special bond with Kavitha's daughter, Esha. Recently, Esha visited Nandita, and they enjoyed spending time together.

Kavitha's care extended beyond the film sets, as she opened a fixed deposit for Manjunath when he was only 12 years old. The money was set aside for him to receive when he turned 18, which eventually helped him purchase his first bike."He used the money to purchase his first bike and then took me for a ride. We are still in contact."