Aideu Handique

Aideu Handique
Aideu Handique in Joymoti
Born	27 June 1915 Pani Dihingia Gaon, Golaghat. Assam
Died	17. December 2002 (2002-12-18) (aged 87) Kamargaon, Golaghat
Parent(s)	Nilambar Handique, Laxmi Handique

Aideu Nilambar Handique (Assamese: আইদেউ সন্দিকৈ; 27 June 1915 – 17 December 2002) was the first film actress of Assamese cinema. She starred in the film Joymoti (1935) directed by Jyoti Prasad Agarwala.

Aideu Handique was born on 27 June 1915 in Pani Dihingiya, Golaghat, Assam to Nilambar Handique and Malakhi Handique. She remained unmarried because she referred to the co-actor assuming the role of her character's husband as Bongohordeo (Assamese for husband) in the film. Unfortunately, the general public perceived Handique as having violated a cultural taboo and she was, consequently, shunned by neighbors and would sink into solitude and obscurity.

She never acted after Joymoti gain except for a minuscule role in the film Ganga Siloni and a guest appearance in a film made on her life. In 1985, when Assam celebrated the golden jubilee of the state's cinema, her role was acknowledged. The East Indian Motion Picture Association had gifted Aideu a wheelchair. The Assam Government, much later, gave her Rs.1,500 a month as pension. It also recommended her name for Padmashri, but was denied the award because she had done only one film. In 1991, a girls' school was named after her in her village.

An Assamese film Aideu (Behind the Screen) was made on Aideu Handique tragic life and times of the first Assamese film actress by Arup Manna which was released in Mumbai International Film Festival in 8 February 2007.