Possible to travel Chennai to Pondi overnight?

Bahut shukriyah!
After all the input, my instincts are telling me to rest for the night! 11pm Indian time would be 3am Australian EST, perhaps jetlag would make all Tamil signs comprehensible?
Chennai- here I come!
I guess I shouldnt be so apprehensive travelling solo, I have managed previously to travel on my own taking two bus rides from Ooty to Cochin without being able to read signs!
Perhaps I shall be lucky to come acroos other helpful locals like all of you when i land!

Blessings to everyone from Melbourne. xoxox

First, at the airport, you'll come across the touts --- who will want to bundle you into a car and charge as much as they can. If you do decide on that route, go to the kiosks. Do not take one of the old black and yellow Ambassadors; ask for an Indica or better. If they say they only do Ambassadors, go to the next-door kiosk!

sorry for intruding but the earlier question of the price for pre-paid taxi to town hasn't been answered and I also want to know.
So anybody who can shed some light ?

I wonder why noone suggested so far to take a cycle rickshaw all the way from the airport to Pondy. I am sarcastic, if I need to say this. Must be the heat that is affecting posters brains

A car is the obvious solution, a train really ridiculous, a bus for someone really cheap who desires to have problems in india from the start.

OP: Prebook your hotel, and go there by car. If your destination is Pondy, order a taxi from there. It saves you a lot of worry if you have a car waiting for you at the airport, and the price already settled. October is rainy season, a bus is out of question. forget that. If you'd like a nice rural setting, or on the beach, book a place in Auroville. In this case, and for Pondy, take an Auroville taxi.

easiest to reach at night would be Center Guest house (with a Dutch host who speaks also German)
http://www.aurovilleguesthouses.org/...p?id=27&page=4

for transport:
http://www.aurovilletransport.com/airport.htm

Or take any hotel downtown Pondy.

Last time I did that, the guest house charged 350. A call taxi might be less, a 5-* hotel a great deal more.

They do charge more in the night.

thanks Nick, in some not-updated travelbook it was mentioned to be 250 and I just needed an idea of the approx. average cost now.