Love Per Square Foot

Love Per Square Foot is a delightful Indian romantic comedy released in 2018. Directed by Anand Tiwari and produced by Ronnie Screwvala, it was the first Indian film released directly on Netflix. The film is a lightheared take on the millennial aspirations of the middle class, particularly revolving around their need for a space of their own in the overcrowded city of dreams, Mumbai.

The film features a talented cast of Indian actors, headlined by Vicky Kaushal and Angira Dhar in the lead roles, along with Alankrita Sahai, Ratna Pathak Shah, Supriya Pathak, Raghubir Yadav and Gajraj Rao in prominent roles. The fresh, yet proficient and versatile acting prowess of the cast ensures a compelling performance that adds authenticity to their characters. Vicky Kaushal and Angira Dhar, known for their finesse in acting, lend credible performances that round-off the film as a well-crafted spectacle.

The storyline of Love Per Square Foot revolves around Sanjay (played by Vicky Kaushal) and Karina (played by Angira Dhar), two young professionals working in Mumbai with a shared dream of owning their own house in the city. However, like the majority of the youth in Mumbai, they find themselves falling short in fulfilling their objective of buying property in Mumbai due to high property rates and meagre incomes.

Sanjay works as an IT professional and lives with his family on the railway quarters while Karina is a schoolteacher who resides in a small room with her mother. While they both earn decent salaries, it's hardly enough to purchase a house. Soon, they discover a joint Home Loan scheme, where couples can apply.

Unable to achieve their dream independently, they decide to enter into a marriage of convenience to be eligible for a joint home loan. The charming narrative tracks their journey and highlights the camaraderie shared by the couple, taking us through their shared struggles, challenges, times of joy, and the eventual evolution of their relationship.

Love Per Square Foot is more than just a romantic comedy; it's also an earnest depiction of the urban housing crisis faced by Millennials in India's overpopulated cities. It humorously yet effectively mirrors the perennial clash in Indian society between aspiration and means, traditional expectations and modern aspirations, and love and practicality.

The film breaks away from the stereotypical depiction of romance in Indian movies and presents a marriage of convenience between two young people to solve their housing issues; a distinctly novel and modern approach to storytelling in the Indian cinema of romance.

The movie also explores the theme of family dynamics and relations beautifully. The quirky family members add a layer of humor and relatability to the movie, typically capturing the essence of middle-class life in Mumbai. Gajraj Rao, Supriya Pathak, and Raghubir Yadav impeccably portray the typical parents found in middle-class Indian families, adding a layer of context to Sanjay and Karina's character development.

Anand Tiwari manages to intermingle romantic impulses with the harsh reality of the housing situation in Mumbai, creating a believable narrative that remains authentic throughout the film. The movie enriches contemporary Indian cinema with its unique storytelling, cinematography, and compelling performances. Gulshan Kumar's upbeat and catchy music scores fall in line with the charm of the film, enriching the on-screen events with their catchy tunes.

Overall, Love Per Square Foot is an engaging film that paints a realistic picture of life in Mumbai with light-hearted humor, youthful energy, and a charming love story. It encourages us all to dare to dream big but, at the same time, reminds us that life doesn't always go as planned. The film’s mix of romance, comedy, and drama, its strong cast, a unique take on modern relationships, and the relatability of its main characters makes it a must-watch for the lover of contemporary Indian cinema.