Dharavath Raj Kumar Naik, popularly known as Perini Raj Kumar, to promote Perini Natyam in schools and temples throughout the Telangana state conducted 200 programmes in a span of 101 days. He began learning Perini Natyam at the age of 10 under Guru Afzal Pasha in Suryapet. In a bid to fine tune the art from, Raj Kumar moved to Hyderabad to learn under Padma Shri Nataraja Ramakrishna, choreography under Sangeet Natak Academy awardee Kala Krishna and Bandi Kumar.
With over two decades of performances behind him, Raj Kumar runs his own dance academy, PRK Natyam Prapancham in the city where he teaches Perini to enthusiastic students. He has also trained in Andhra Natyam and is proud to claim that he received the Jaya Vijayudu, Youth Best Classical Dancer, Pride of Telangana award, from none other than Padma Shri Nataraja Ramakrishna. The Komaram Bheem awardee, Raj Kumar has over 2500 performances to his credit in India and abroad and appeared in many TV programmes.