The Groupe De Réflexion Franco-Indien (Indo-French Reflection Group), founded by Lalitha Badrinath in 1990, aims to enhance understanding between India and France. Over 30 years, it has held monthly meetings on topics like ancient and contemporary history, arts & literature, religion & philosophy, and science and technology.

In 1996, the Music & Research (M&R) Group was established within the association to study and present Indian classical music, both Carnatic and Hindustani. Their lecture demonstration sessions are central to the association's annual day celebrations, often accompanied by a document detailing research on chosen musical themes, songs, and composers.

The M&R Group, comprising amateur and neo-professional musicians of various origins, has explored a diverse range of topics over the past three decades. 

On 16 June, the association celebrated its 34th anniversary at the Château of Buc, France. The event, themed ‘Legacy of pioneering women composers in Indian classical music’, featured concerts by musicians and brought out a research document on the lives and achievements of these composers. 

The wide spectrum of heterogeneous composers included, Karaikal Ammaiyar, Andal, Muddu Palani, Kutty Kunju Thangachi, Bangalore Nagarathnammal, Ambujam Krishna, Neela Ramamurthy, Padma Veeraraghavan, Rukmini Ramani, Janabai, Gauhar Jaan, Kesaribai Kerkar, the doyenne of Hindustani music, Begum Akhtar, Gangubai Hangal, Kishori Amonkar, Prabha Atre and Kaushiki Chakraborty, to name a few.

Despite the program running over an hour, the audience appeared to relish the harmonious melodies, with mobile phones surfacing solely for capturing moments. It was also delightful to observe the Mayor’s evident enjoyment of the concert, as he was seen rhythmically tapping his feet and nodding his head in approval. Although the performers were primarily amateurs and semi-professionals, they invariably succeeded in captivating the audience.