
Get Ready to Groove! BigHit's Fresh Boy Group CORTIS Bursts onto the Scene
Meet CORTIS: The Faces Sparking K-pop's Next Wave
2025 just got a whole lot livelier with the arrival of BigHit's newest boy band, CORTIS. This stylish five-member group-Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho-made a bold entrance on August 11 with the "GO!" music video, instantly capturing the attention of K-pop stans everywhere.
Their debut EP,
COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES
, set for release on September 8, promises energetic tracks and a playful aesthetic.
What does "CORTIS" mean? It's all about creative expression and breaking the mold. These guys encourage everyone to color outside the lines-both metaphorically and literally-through music and dance. Their concept photos scream vibrancy, defying convention and showcasing their unique personalities.
Talent and Teamwork: More Than Just Good Looks
Unlike some idol groups, CORTIS isn't just about flawless visuals. Martin and James have already made a mark behind the scenes, contributing to songs and choreography for other BigHit artists even before debut. This hands-on approach means CORTIS offers a musical vibe rooted in authenticity, creative ambition, and teamwork.
From what's been teased, the group's EP will reflect their drive to inspire self-expression and showcase the free spirit resonating with K-pop's young audience.
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by Taboola
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Their music and performances highlight more than dance moves-they aim to leave a lasting message for youth eager to embrace their individuality.
K-pop's Ongoing Evolution: Why CORTIS Matters
The K-pop industry is notorious for constant innovation, and CORTIS fits right in with their forward-thinking approach. Several industry experts note that debuting groups like CORTIS often set new trends for style, choreography, and fan engagement. According to industry analyst Hyun-Soo Park, newer teams debuting under major labels regularly attract over 5 lakh views on their debut MV in the first 24 hours, and CORTIS is already on track to hit impressive numbers.
Their dynamic debut schedule includes:
August 18, 2025
: Official debut with title track "What You Want"
August 22, 2025
: English version release featuring Teezo Touchdown
September 8, 2025
: Full EP
COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES
drops
With their energetic brand, self-produced music, and strong agency support, CORTIS stands ready to join the ranks of K-pop favorites and inspire a new wave of fans worldwide.
What's Next? Watch Out for These Dates!
K-pop lovers are about to experience CORTIS's full spectrum soon. After the August 11 MV drop, fans will get even more content with the EP release. Industry observers predict that their strong social media following and BigHit's global platform will ensure the group's presence expands quickly-and CORTIS's message to "color outside the lines" is about to reach every corner of the fandom.
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Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Coolie enters Lokesh Cinematic Universe: The genre cinema of Lokesh Kanagaraj
A young bank employee hailing from Coimbatore used to jot down story ideas on his train journeys back and forth from work in the city, while listening to his favorite movie soundtracks. A stranger to the film industry, the only constant in his life was his undying devotion to superstar Kamal Haasan, and his film Sathya (1988), a film that altered his life choices and personality traits at an impressionable age. He made up bonkers scenarios in his head starring his idol Kamal Haasan and smaller films he could make with his friends during his time off from work. He kept chipping away at his mundane job, even as he consumed from a smorgasbord of late 80s and 90s action fare, which were telecast on HBO. The humble fanboy in question is none other than Lokesh Kanagaraj is the humble fanboy in question whose rough-on-the-edges, macho action vehicles have been enthralling a whole new generation of filmgoers with their visceral thrills and impeccably written action blocks. 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Drawing from a well of inspirations ranging from films starring Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to major grimy B Action movie titles of the 90's, opened up his purview of a cinematic language where the side characters and arc get equal care to that of the hero. The well of inspirations goes back to the starter pack of action films like Rambo: First Blood, Die Hard, and a healthy dose of Tarantino riffs and Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, as a sort of his landmark obsessions. Lokesh is your average urban action cinema lover filled with a handful of Hollywood references, who has been given studio budgets and action stars to play around his little genre mashup sandboxes. These are not mere reference points for Lokesh but artistic north stars towards which he has been building his action figures. 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'Dilli', an ex-convict recently released from Prison, is eager to go back to his estranged daughter but is forced to help the cops in a daredevil mission, with only a friendly cop on his side. This logline from his Karthi starrer 'Kaithi' might seem all too familiar for the fans of Jerry Bruckheimer-produced Nick Cage B-movie classic 'Con Air (1997), and it is. Lokesh works within a similar genre playing ground but strips back much of the excess and campiness inherent in Con Air in his loose adaptation, to make it an emotionally resonant little action adventure that is grounded enough to make the local hybrid flavour work. Lokesh is known to take familiar stereotypes of the unshaken, emotionally distant at first (only to be revealed otherwise) men with murky pasts who are called upon to salvage a current crisis in the most unexpected of ways. Lokesh Kanagaraj is one of the most prominent pop culture figures in South Indian action cinema, and the young filmmaker, who specializes in blood-soaked, edgy action tent poles, has created a fan following for sculpted hero figures and the unbridled dynamic staging of set pieces. There is a clear attention to the camera moves, blocking of actors in frame, and you can see a tendency to locate the volatile rage of men caught in worlds of crime. The incessant 'say no to drugs' messaging in his films feels more like a mere footnote to greater genre pleasures on display. The women are not the centre of attention of Lokesh films, and he dutifully plays with their placement in his 'action-break-action' structure as secondary players moving the protagonist's journey forward. This is the world of men clawing, kicking, and storming their way out of trouble. 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A Tamil homegrown cowboy action cinema lover is rejuvenating action cinema like never before, and we are the better for it. Coolie will hit theatres tomorrow and will be a litmus test for Lokesh's changing cinematic sensibilities and Tamil cinema's box office capabilities.


Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
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Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
NYT Strands Hints for August 14, 2025: Today's Clues, Spangram and full answer list
For players of The New York Times ' increasingly popular daily word puzzle, NYT Strands, Thursday's edition brought a theme centred around truth, authenticity, and fairness. Those attempting the August 14, 2025, puzzle found themselves connecting words that all pointed towards being 'fair and square,' with the day's Spangram providing the key to unlocking the grid. NYT Strands: The Theme for Today's Puzzle For August 14, the underlying concept for NYT Strands revolved around ways to describe something genuine. The puzzle's thematic focus meant that every word in the grid tied back to the idea of authenticity — whether in legal, cultural, or colloquial terms. Players who recognised the theme early could more easily spot the connected words scattered across the board, while others leaned on the provided NYT Strands Hints to guide them towards the solution. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote NYT Strands Hints for August 14, 2025 To help solvers without giving away the complete answers upfront, two main hints were provided, as per a report by Beebom: Hint #1: A food prepared, sold, or consumed in accordance with Jewish dietary laws. Hint #2: Something of undisputed origin, not a copy. The combination of these clues encouraged players to think broadly — from cultural practices to descriptive terms in everyday language. NYT Strands Spangram and Its Clues A defining feature of every Strands puzzle is its Spangram, a single word or phrase stretching between two opposite sides of the grid. For August 14, the Spangram clue was: to describe something that's neither specious nor counterfeit. Live Events Spangram Position: Mostly vertical Starting Letters: 'BO' The answer: BONAFIDE. Identifying the Spangram early often unlocks the remainder of the puzzle, as it summarises the day's theme in one concise expression. NYT Strands Full List of Theme Words for August 14 The complete set of theme-related words, as per Beebom's report, for today's puzzle was: REAL GENUINE TRUE KOSHER AUTHENTIC LEGITIMATE These words, combined with the Spangram BONAFIDE, reinforced the authenticity-based theme running through the day's game. How NYT Strands Works Introduced by The New York Times as part of its expanding roster of daily word challenges, NYT Strands is designed to test a player's vocabulary and ability to find thematic connections. Each puzzle features a hidden Spangram — a long word or phrase that spans the board — along with several shorter theme words. Players select connected letters on the grid to form valid words, with the Spangram acting as both a hint and a central thread tying the theme together. Notably, the Spangram does not always begin or end at the edge of the board, making its identification a matter of careful observation and deduction. NYT Strands: Why Today's Puzzle Stood Out The August 14 edition struck a balance between straightforward words like TRUE and trickier inclusions such as KOSHER, which required cultural knowledge beyond general English vocabulary. Additionally, LEGITIMATE and AUTHENTIC were long enough to require multiple scanning passes for many players, while BONAFIDE's starting 'BO' clue proved a useful anchor. For regular players, today's puzzle highlighted why NYT Strands has become a staple — it challenges both language skills and associative thinking while keeping the format concise enough for a quick daily brain exercise. FAQs What was the Spangram in NYT Strands for August 14, 2025? The Spangram was BONAFIDE, positioned mostly vertically on the grid. Where can players access NYT Strands? The game is available for free on The New York Times website and through its official mobile app.