Love Per Square Foot - The Indian Dream and the Commodification of Love

Love Per Square Foot (2018), directed by Anand Tiwari, is a modern Indian romantic comedy-drama that revolves around two middle-class individuals, Sanjay Chaturvedi and Kareena D'Souza, who decide to marry not for love but to jointly acquire a house in Mumbai, a city notorious for its exorbitant real estate prices. While the film is primarily seen as a feel-good romance, I would like to point out the socio-economic aspects and class struggles for this analysis. I enjoyed watching this film the first time, and upon rewatching, I noticed their class struggles' impact and how it can be viewed as a commentary on the same. 

The film is set in Mumbai, a city known for its economic disparities. Further, the plot revolves around owning a house in a city with extremely high real estate rates. The need to acquire a house and take extreme measures to get it depicts the capitalist ideology and how ingrained it is in our society very well. The sense of upward mobility and the societal belief that ownership of a house is linked to success directly both of which also come from a capitalist mindset. 

The urban middle-class individual's quest for homeownership reflects how their dreams and aspirations are shaped by the capitalist system. The characters are willing to compromise their personal lives in order to do better in society. Their personal desires are overshadowed by the larger economic pressures, where fulfilment is defined by material gain rather than genuine connection.

Further, the commodification of human relationships is another aspect that is very prominent in the film. Sanjay and Kareena's decision to marry out of practicality rather than love additionally symbolises how relationships and emotions become commodified in a capitalist society. 

In the film, marriage becomes a means to achieving a bigger goal. Sanjay and Kareena, though they eventually grow closer, initially enter into a marriage of convenience driven by their need for housing. This highlights the transactional nature of relationships, where personal connections are used as a way to meet capitalist goals. 

From a Marxist perspective, this commodification of love points to a deeper sense of alienation. Karl Marx argued that capitalism not only alienates people from the products of their labour but also from their true human nature. This alienation seeps into personal relationships, where individuals start seeing each other not as independent beings but as tools to achieve certain goals. In the film, Sanjay and Kareena initially approach each other not as romantic partners but as strategic allies in their pursuit of property, illustrating how capitalist systems can distance people from forming genuine, authentic connections.

The transactional nature of Sanjay and Kareena's relationship also sheds light on how marriage, often viewed as a sacred bond in many cultures, is reduced to a practical tool for economic advancement in capitalist societies. Love Per Square Foot critiques how capitalism can diminish the value of genuine emotional connections, prioritising material gain over authentic relationships.

Class plays a crucial role in Love Per Square Foot. Sanjay and Kareena come from middle-class backgrounds where pursuing upward mobility is a constant struggle. Their dream of owning a house is not just about having a place to live; it is tied to their desire to climb the social ladder and gain a sense of dignity in a deeply stratified society. The film highlights the challenges faced by the Indian middle class, who remain vulnerable to the uncertainties and pressures of the capitalist system despite their advantages over the working class.

The setting and both the characters working in a ban additionally emphasise the alienation aspect. They work so close to a system that grants loans, yet they can not access them. The film also puts into perspective how even the middle class is stuck in a cycle of debt and depends on the rich or the authorities. 

The power dynamics between the boss and the employee are shown in their raw form. Sanjay, although he has a personal relationship with his boss, is not treated with respect by her, not even as any other employee would be. This reiterates the power dynamics that come with capitalism. Such power dynamics also affect the way individuals perceive themselves and their place in society, which reiterates class distinctions. 

The film also critiques the Indian Dream, a variation of the American Dream, which suggests that anyone can achieve success through hard work and perseverance. The concept is based on an unrealistic capitalist dream meant to maintain class distinctions. It keeps them dreaming and hoping to move up the ladder while, in reality, it just emphasises the division and enhances the system, only letting a few people move up the ladder. 

Sanjay and Kareena's decision to marry for the sake of property is portrayed as a logical and practical choice. However, from a Marxist viewpoint, it reveals the illusion of choice within capitalist societies. Marxist theorists argue that capitalism gives people a false sense of autonomy when, in fact, their options are heavily shaped by economic pressures. In the film, Sanjay and Kareena are not truly free to marry for love or live where they want; their decisions are constrained by the housing market and their financial limitations.

Their choice to marry for property highlights how, in capitalist societies, people are often compelled to make decisions that align with market demands rather than their personal desires. This illusion of choice is an integral part of the capitalist ideology, which frames the market as an impartial force. In reality, it is structured to benefit the wealthy at the expense of the working and middle classes.

The film's resolution involves Sanjay and Kareena eventually falling in love and securing their house, which can be interpreted in two ways. On one hand, it reinforces the capitalist ideology and the illusion of choice. The happy ending suggests that the characters have successfully navigated the capitalist system and achieved their dreams, implying that those who work hard enough and make sacrifices can succeed, too. 

On the other hand, the film can be seen as a critique of this very idea. While Sanjay and Kareena do achieve their goal, the story subtly hints that their success comes with a price. Now, they are tied to the financial and social responsibilities of homeownership, and their relationship, which began out of practical necessity, continues to be influenced by the same capitalist forces. In this way, Love Per Square Foot offers a thoughtful critique of how capitalism touches every aspect of life, from relationships to personal fulfilment, and suggests that even those who 'succeed' within the system are not truly free.

In conclusion, Love Per Square Foot offers more than just a light-hearted romantic narrative, when examined through Marxist film theory, it reveals a layered and critical commentary on the socio-economic forces shaping its characters' lives. The film delves into the commodification of relationships, where love and marriage become transactional tools in the pursuit of property, a symbol of success in a capitalist world. It also sheds light on the challenging position of the middle class, whose aspirations are constantly at odds with the economic system that keeps them in a state of financial uncertainty. 

The influence of capitalist ideals is evident in how personal dreams and desires are moulded by the need for material security, often blurring the line between genuine connection and financial survival. Sanjay and Kareena's journey, from entering a marriage of convenience to eventually falling in love, reflects the broader capitalist forces, where financial pressures shape personal choices more than emotions.

Although the film is a quirky romantic comedy, it subtly critiques the system that shapes the characters' decisions. By exploring the illusion of choice and the impact of external capitalist forces on relationships, Love Per Square Foot provides a thoughtful examination of how capitalism permeates every aspect of life, from love to social status. The film encourages viewers to reflect on whether true freedom and fulfilment can ever be fully realised within a capitalist framework, offering a nuanced and insightful portrayal of modern Indian society.