Surrounded by literature, art, and culture during her upbringing, Kavitha Lankesh found inspiration close at hand when it came time to direct her debut feature film, Deveeri. Discussing her plans with her father, the late Kannada literary figure P Lankesh, he suggested she consider his novella, Akka. Intrigued by the story, Kavitha took on the task of writing the script herself after noticing the narrative taking on a more literary rather than cinematic tone. She fondly recalls the remarkable work of art director Shashidhar Adapa, whose set design for the film was so convincing that it was mistaken for a real slum, leading to it being overlooked for an award. Despite her father's passing before the film was released, Kavitha persevered and completed the project within a modest budget.Despite receiving financial support from three friends, she still values the two pages her father initially wrote. Kavitha recalls, "When I approached Nandita Das for the role, she was regarded as a top-tier actor. Deveeri was set in a slum, and I was searching for someone who could authentically portray the character. While I considered several actors from Kannada cinema, Nandita appeared to be the perfect fit for the role. Despite her reputation for being selective about art films, she graciously accepted the role and performed it with elegance." Reflecting on the journey of creating her debut film, Kavitha expresses a nostalgic innocence. She marvels at the progress made over the years.

Manjunath, who portrayed her younger brother Kyaatha, resided in Bosco House - a shelter for orphaned children at that time. Recounting Manjunath's initial doubts about Nandita's ability to play the role due to her lack of proficiency in Kannada, Kavitha fondly recalls, "When Manjunath met Nandita, he was surprised and questioned if she could do justice to the role because she didn't speak Kannada. He was unaware of dubbing."

One of Kavitha's dearest memories is her father's response to the film after its completion. "After Deveeri was filmed, I invited him to watch it. He teasingly remarked, 'I knew you would make a terrible film anyway.' My father was not one to openly praise, but he later wrote, 'Deveeri is a film that would make anyone envious' in an article. That was all the appreciation I needed. Although my father saw the film, he passed away before its release." Kavitha and Nandita continue to share a close friendship, with Nandita forming a special bond with Kavitha's daughter, Esha.

Kavitha's concern for her team extended beyond the filming process. "We established a fixed deposit for Manjunath when he was just 12 years old. Instead of handing him cash directly, we set aside funds that he would receive when he turned 18. He later."

He purchased his first bike using that money and then took me for a ride. I still keep in contact with him.