M.I.A. named the album after her mother and said her mother’s struggles in life are a major theme of the recording. It was mainly written and produced by M.I.A. andSwitch, and features contributions fromTimbaland,Diplo,Afrikan BoyandThe Wilcannia Mob.

Kalaincorporates prominent influences fromSouth Asianmusic, featuring samples ofBollywoodandTamil cinema. The album draws on various styles, fromfunk cariocatoAfricanfolk. The songs are about political themes related to theThird World, includingillegal immigration,poverty,andcapitalism.