Lucknow, Dec. 11 -- Second-year students of Bhartendu Natya Academy (BNA) staged The Pillars of Society on Wednesday on the academy premises. Directed by Asif Ali and written by Henrik Ibsen, the play explores the dangerous conflict between a person's carefully crafted social image and their true character. Set in a small, prosperous coastal town in Norway, the story revolves around Karsten Bernick, a successful shipbuilder and entrepreneur who is regarded as a symbol of honesty and morality. To the community, he is the town's most respected pillar, someone whose decisions and reputation safeguard society's collective pride. However, behind this facade lies deep hypocrisy, gradually exposed as the narrative unfolds. Bernick's wealth and standing are built on an old lie and a crime wrongfully blamed on an innocent man. His business ambitions, including land grabbing disguised as a railway project, reflect his personal greed, which he hides under the pretext of public welfare. The play highlights the contrast between social reputation and true integrity. The plot intensifies when Johan Tonnesen and his sister Lona Hessel return after fifteen years of exile. Lona, a character who challenges traditional gender norms, emerges as a symbol of moral courage. She urges Bernick to repent and publicly acknowledge the truth. The tension peaks when Bernick, desperate to conceal his secrets, devises a plan that ultimately puts his own son's life at risk. More than a personal story, the play serves as a commentary on societal failure-where appearances and public approval overshadow truth and justice. It reinforces the idea that a society's true foundation lies in honesty, self-reflection, and the courage to accept the truth, not in material success or superficial reputation. The production also prompts viewers to examine the real pillars of their own lives and communities, and whether they stand on falsehood or truth. Performers included Akash Kumar, Mansi Rawat, Toko and Nandini Singh....