Growing up in a household rich in literature, art, and culture, Kavitha Lankesh found ample inspiration for her directorial debut film, "Deveeri." When discussing her plans with her father, the late Kannada literary figure P Lankesh, he suggested she adapt his novella, "Akka," into a film. Initially, her father started writing the script, but Kavitha noticed it veering towards a more literary style than cinematic. She then expressed her desire to take over the scriptwriting.

Kavitha fondly remembers the remarkable work of the art director, Shashidhar Adapa, whose set design for the film was so authentic that it was mistaken for a real slum. The exterior scenes were filmed in Siddapura, Bengaluru, while Shashidhar designed the interior set. Despite its realism, Shashidhar's set design went unnoticed for an award, as many believed it was a genuine location. The entire film was shot on a budget of just ₹32 lakh.

After completing "Deveeri," Kavitha invited her father to watch the film. He humorously commented that he knew she would have made a hopeless film, but he passed away before its release.Despite receiving financial support from three friends, she still cherishes the two-page letter her father wrote. When Kavitha approached Nandita Das for a role in the slum-set film "Deveeri," she was seen as an esteemed actor. Although many actors from Kannada cinema were considered for the role, Nandita was deemed the perfect fit. Known for her discerning choices in art films, Nandita graciously accepted the role and portrayed it with elegance," Kavitha recalls. Reflecting on the innocence of creating her first film, Kavitha is delighted to revisit those memories and see their progress over the years. Manjunath, who portrayed her younger brother Kyaatha, was residing in Bosco House for orphaned children at the time. When Manjunath met Nandita, he initially doubted her ability to play the role due to her lack of proficiency in Kannada. 'My father described Deveeri as a film that would make anyone envious,' Kavitha fondly recalls. One of Kavitha’s cherished memories is her father's reaction to the film. Despite initially teasing her, her father later expressed his admiration in an article. Nandita and Kavitha have maintained a close friendship, with Nandita forming a special bond with Kavitha's daughter, Esha. Manjunath, who was only 12 at the time, had a fixed deposit opened for him by Kavitha's team. This gesture was to ensure he had financial support when he turned 18, allowing him to purchase his first bike from the funds."He used that amount to purchase his first bike and then took me for a ride. I still keep in contact with him."