Surrounded by literature, art, and culture while growing up, Kavitha Lankesh found inspiration close at hand when directing her first feature, Deveeri. Discussing her plans with her late father, the Kannada literary figure P Lankesh, he suggested she explore his novella, Akka. Impressed by the story but noticing it was becoming more literary than cinematic after two pages of his scriptwriting, Kavitha decided to take charge of the script herself. She also praises the realistic work of art director Shashidhar Adapa, whose set for the film was so authentic that it was mistaken for a real slum. Shot on a modest budget of ₹32 lakh, Deveeri was a testament to their creative resourcefulness. Despite her father's jest before watching the film and his untimely passing before its release, Kavitha reflects on the artistic achievements and challenges of bringing Deveeri to life.Despite receiving financial support from three friends, she still cherishes the two pages that her father originally wrote. "When I approached Nandita Das for the role, she was viewed as a prestigious actor. Deveeri was based in a slum, and I was seeking someone who could truly embody the character. While I considered various actors from Kannada cinema, Nandita appeared to be a perfect fit for the role. Despite her reputation for being selective in choosing art films, she graciously accepted the role and portrayed it with elegance," shares Kavitha. Reflecting on the past, there is a certain innocence in creating your first film. As time goes by, it is a pleasure to revisit those memories and see how far we have progressed. Manjunath, who portrayed her younger brother Kyaatha, was residing in Bosco House — a shelter for orphaned children at the time. "When Manjunath met Nandita, he was surprised and skeptical about whether she could handle the role because she did not speak Kannada. He was unaware of the dubbing process," she recalls. One of Kavitha's most cherished memories is her father's reaction to the film after its completion. "After we finished filming Deveeri, I invited him to watch it. He teased me, saying, 'I knew you would make a hopeless film anyway.' My father was never one to openly praise, but later, he wrote in an article, 'Deveeri is a film that would make anyone envious.' That was all the acknowledgment I needed. Although my father saw the film, he passed away before it was released," she reveals. Nandita and I have remained close friends, and she shares a special bond with my daughter, Esha. Recently, Esha visited Nandita, and they thoroughly enjoyed their time together. Kavitha's care for her team went beyond the film set. "We set up a fixed deposit for Manjunath, who was just 12 years old at the time. Instead of giving him cash, we saved money for him to receive when he turned 18. He later purchased his first motorcycle with the funds from the fixed deposit that we had opened for him."He used the money to purchase his first bike and then took me for a ride. I still keep in contact with him.