Thailand's controversial hit TV series <i>Hormones</i> may have to be re-edited after the National Broadcast and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) deemed the show’s content to be obscene.
Hormones, produced by Grammy-owned GMM Thai Hub (GTH), has been broadcasted online and on television. A total of nine episodes have been released since May 2013.
The plot revolves around a group of teens who face a variety of problems as they go through the phase of being a Thai high school student.
The series acquired millions of fans over a short period of time with its explicit and accurate depiction of issues young Thais face in real life, such as sex, drugs and gang violence.
Peeramong Manakit, a member of the NBTC board and subcommittee in charge of content and programme slots, said Hormones put indecent thoughts and images into the minds of the audience, violating article 37 of the Thai Public Broadcasting Act.
Mr Peeramong said scenes of students before and after having sex and of students purchasing birth control pills from illegal abortion centres are some examples of parts from the show that need revision.
He said the commission has to consider whether it should allow the Thai public to accept what’s portrayed by the series as reality or not.
A meeting between executives of Grammy and NBTC’s board members to discuss the show’s content and broadcast channels was scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed to Aug 5 on Grammy's request.
The commission also requested the submission of original footage used in all of the nine broadcasted episodes.
Jadet Chaowilai, director of the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation, opposed the NBTC’s decision, saying the commission is old-fashioned and in denial.
Hormones is helpful to society, he said. It aids teen and young adult audiences to better understand sexual problems.
"In the Rang Ngao drama, [actresses] slapped each other but the NBTC did not take any action. Now that there's a useful show, the commission gets all worked up about it," Mr Jadet said.
Series director Songyos Sugmakanan said he was concerned over the making of Hormones because Thai society is very sensitive to this sort of material. Thailand is ruled by adults who dictate right and wrong without providing any explanations.
"Banning movies or censoring violent media content does not solve issues. People need to be able to think for themselves. I have put my thoughts into the show and am playing my part in being responsible towards society," he said.
The father of a teenage actor in the show, on Thursday revealed his child was taking illicit drugs in a photograph that leaked online on Wednesday night.
In the photo, the actor is using what appears to be homemade drug equipment.
The father said at a press conference that he had confronted his child after the photo surfaced. The actor confessed to experimenting with illegal drugs once, he said.
He said the actor and his family feel very sorry. The incident happened because the actor was young and inexperienced, the father added.
The actor was scheduled to appear at the press conference in person but did not show up.
Earlier, Play Channel, a subsidiary of GTH, a movie company that holds the actor's contract, posted a comment in regard to the photo which contradicts the father’s statement.
It wrote that the picture was taken while the actor was shooting a television show called "Play Gang Boy Meet Girl Special". The item that resembles drug equipment is actually a prop for the show.
The actor plays a leading role in Hormones and has acted in many soap operas, movies and music videos.