Kaal

Kaal is a term derived from Sanskrit (kāla) that appears across several Indian languages and cultures, where it commonly denotes time. In Hindu philosophy and mythology, kāla is the concept of the inexorable passage of time and, by extension, death. It is sometimes personified as a force or figure that marks the beginning and end of eras; in some traditions Kāla is associated with Yama, the god of death, and with fierce forms of Śiva such as Kalabhairava, who is connected with time and mortality.

Linguistically, kāla is used in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil and other languages to refer to time. In addition to its practical meaning, the term can carry connotations of fate, inevitability, and the end of life, depending on context. The word also appears in religious, philosophical and poetic usage to explore the themes of impermanence and the cycles of creation and destruction.

In popular culture, "Kaal" is the title of a 2005 Indian Hindi-language horror film directed by Soham Shah. The film centers on a group of people who encounter a malevolent force during a road journey, using the title to evoke the ominous, time-bound aspect of the story. The term also appears in various media and literary works, reflecting its broad resonance with concepts of time, fate and mortality.