But the Thai film industry is renewing its fight. Filmmakers, buoyed by apparently growing public support and trying to take advantage of the constitution drafting, have once again stepped up the campaign against the antiquated film law. They are calling for a ratings system and the same kind of freedom as that enjoyed by the press. The chances of them winning, however, are not promising.

Acclaimed film critic and director Sananjit Bangsaphan is among the most pessimistic when it comes to this issue. "I've been discussing this topic with other filmmakers at Thammasat University for the past 30 years and nothing has changed," he said after last week's "New Constitution and Thai Movies" seminar.

The act, which is still in effect today, gives the Board of Censors under the Culture Ministry the right to cut scenes from films that are forbidden from being shown on television. Filmmakers consider the law totally outdated and have long been campaigning for a replacement that would include a ratings system similar to that used in the West. And the charter drafters have been urged by the newly formed Free Thai Cinema Movement, led by director MC Chatrichalerm Yukol and film lecturer Banjong Kosolwat, to classify movie-making as part of the mass media so the industry can enjoy the same freedom and rights.

It's a noble agenda. The Thai movie industry has managed to develop by leaps and bounds over the past few years - despite the restrictions. To take the next big step, however, the final barriers to artistic freedom need to be lifted.

Of course, when the door is open, not only fresh air would rush in; there will be bugs and other nuisances. This is simply the time to face the necessary challenges so our promising industry can really mature. As of now, much of the talent in the industry is limited to light-hearted or adventure films because many producers simply want to avoid the censors.

Unlike previous movements led by the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand, this time around the moviemakers are getting support from the studios as well as independent filmmakers. The latter have also borne the brunt of the rigidity of the censors, who, according to director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, "credit the public with the maturity of a five-year-old". He might be overstating it, but that might just explain why, for example, we have never had a Thai movie on high-level corruption or conspiracy despite the fact that graft and abuse of power have been rampant in this country.

The proposed ratings system is a good compromise, but the Culture Ministry has been tampering and interfering in an effort to keep the status quo - so much so that things could become even worse. If the ministry has its way, we could have both a rating system and old-style censorship principles. According to Apichatpong, it could be a law from hell, featuring one ratings board and one censorship board. The only hope is for filmmakers' freedom to be enshrined in the new constitution to blunt the conservatives' future strikes and manoeuvres.

The conservatives do provide checks and balances in society and are often the first to trigger useful debates. However, when it comes to freedom of expression, it seems that Thailand's conservatives never listen.

As far as the film industry is concerned, it is simply unfair to assume that the growing talent in this country, who have had to be content with making comedy or adventure, will seek to undermine society if they are given greater freedom. In a liberal world, artists check and balance each other out. How society responds to their unhindered work determines its real culture.