“Dance has been my passion right from childhood. While I knew about other classical dance forms growing up, it wasn’t until I was in 7th standard that I discovered Permanent , the cultural art form of Telangana.

During my summer holidays that year, Perini Sandeep Master, who was from my school, announced that he would teach Perini Natyam classes for free. My sister was interested in joining, so I decided to accompany her. Initially, I didn’t intend to learn, but as I watched her and participated casually, I slowly started enjoying it. Before I knew it, I was learning Perini Natyam along with her.

At first, my parents weren’t very supportive of me pursuing dance. But after seeing me performing at various stages and noticing the recognition I was receiving, they started to believe in my passion and supported my journey.

Perini Natyam has a rich history. It dates back to the Kakatiya dynasty, when warriors performed it before going into battle. The energy and grace of the dance are truly unique. It’s been 8 years now, and I’m still learning and performing Perini Natyam, which was brought back to life by the legendary dance guru Nataraja Ramakrishna garu.

For years, people thought Perini Natyam was only for men. But thanks to visionaries like Kala Krishna Master, now both men and perform this artform, in styles like Perini Thandavam and Perini Lasyam. Since Telangana became a state in 2014, there’s been a special focus on preserving and promoting our cultural heritage, which has helped bring more attention to this art form.

Over time, I’ve been lucky to perform in many places across India. One of my proudest moments was performing in front of Telangana CM Revath Reddy sir and Minister Seethakka madam among many other dignitaries. Moments like these remind me why I chose this path.

Now, I also train 10 students in Hyderabad under the guidance of Perini Sandeep Master. I am also grateful for Perini Rajkumar garu, Harikrishna Mamidi sir and others who have taken this art form forward. I’ve performed on stage over 1,900 times so far, but this is just the beginning. My dream is to take Perini Natyam to more people across India.”