The film is based on a novel of the same name by Kannada writer [[Srikrishna Alanahalli]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Lal|first=Mohan|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1221-3|page=480}}</ref> The story combines three interdependent themes – the tragedy that shocks the village, the tragic story of Kamali, and the story of the eight-year-old boy who visualises all these events. The story is seen through the eyes of Kitti.<ref name="dff">{{cite web|title=21st National Award for Films|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm21stNFAAward.aspx|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|accessdate=4 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101091451/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm21stNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=1 November 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen in their book, ''Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema'', noted that the boy cannot distinguish between the "man-made violence" and the "primeval threats" presented by the dense forest; according to a legend, the forest has a killer bird that calls out its victims by name.{{Sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|2014|p=418}}
The film was Karnad's first venture as an independent director.{{efn|He co-directed his debut film ''[[Vamsha Vriksha]]'' alongside [[B. V. Karanth]].{{Sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|2014|p=411}}}} Amrish Puri, a regular face in [[Shyam Benegal]]'s films was chosen to play the main lead. The cinematography was handled by [[Govind Nihalani]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Moudgi|first=Reema|title=Nihalani Returns to Bengaluru With a Rich Cache of Memories|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2014/nov/10/Nihalani-Returns-to-Bengaluru-With-a-Rich-Cache-of-Memories-680668.html|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=10 November 2014|accessdate=4 October 2016}}</ref> who was also associated with Benegal.{{Sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|2014|p=418}} [[B. V. Karanth]] composed the film score and was in charge of art direction.<ref name="dff" /> [[T. S. Nagabharana]], who would later go on to become an independent filmmaker, worked as a costume designer and assisted Karnad in the film.{{Sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|2014|p=418}}
