MC Chatrichalerm “Than Mui” Yukol, far left, led a group of film directors yesterday to hand a letter to the constitution drafters asking them to categorise movies and performing arts as part of the mass media.

The group, led by renowned director MC Chatrichalerm Yukol, submitted their demand to Chuchai Supawong, who chairs the Constitution Drafting Committee's subcommittee on rights and freedom, public participation

and power distribution, at the Parliament.

They called on the charter writers to mention movies and performing arts in the section about rights and freedom of the mass media.

"The Thai movie industry was born almost 100 years ago but we have never been recognised as part of the mass media," said Chatrichalerm, whose credits include such blockbuster films as "Suriyothai" and "The Legend of King Naresuan".

Banjong Kosalawat, a lecturer at Thammasat University's Faculty of Journalism and Mass Media, who was part of the group, said movies are an influential medium that can influence public attitudes.

Chuchai, the subcommittee chairman, said he personally agreed to the group's proposal and that he would raise the matter amongst the constitution drafters for discussion.

In a related development, about 300 Buddhist monks and lay people gathered outside of the Parliament compound yesterday to press their demand for Buddhism to be made the national religion.