In historical and mythological contexts, the Kalakeyas are renowned as a fierce clan of demonic or warrior tribes frequently depicted in ancient Indian epics and literature, such as the Mahabharata. In modern popular culture, they gained massive international recognition through S.S. Rajamouli's epic cinematic masterpiece Baahubali, where they were portrayed as a savage, bloodthirsty opposing army speaking an invented fictional language called Kiliki, locked in brutal warfare against the Kingdom of Mahishmati.